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THE 


CLERGY  OF  AMERICA: 


ANECDOTES  ILLUSTRATIVE  OF  THE  CHARACTER  OP 

MINISTERS  OF  RELIGION  IN  THE 

UNITED  STATES. 


BY 

JOSEPH  BELCHER,  D.D., 

Autlior  of  "  Scriptaxe  Narratives,"  "Married  Life,"  &c.,  ice.,  and  editor  of 
"The  Complete  Works  of  Andre-w  Fuller"  and  "  Robert  Hall,"  &c.;  &c. 


PHILADELPHIA  : 

J.    B,   LIPPINCOTT   &   CO. 

184'J. 


Entered,  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1848,  by 

JOSEPH  BELCHER,  D.D.. 

in  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Eastern 
District  of  Pennsylvania. 


8TERE0TTPED  BT  R.  P.  MOORIDOE. 


PRINTED  BT  WM.  S.  TOUNO. 


PREFACE. 


The  facts  placed  before  the  reader  of  this  volume,  are  not 
only  pleasing  to  the  fancy,  and  interesting  as  calling  up  manv 
delightful  and  solemn  reminiscences,  but  they  are  important  as 
materials  of  History.  They  show  the  character  of  the  age, 
illustrate  nature  and  religion,  and  supply  those  details  of  kno^»- 
ledge  which  cherish  the  habits  of  induction :  without  these 
there  can  be  no  certain  philosophy. 

In  the  compilation  of  this  work,  far  more  labour  and  pains 
have  been  expended  than  the  vast  majority  of  its  readers  would 
suppose ;  but  its  editor  has  been  well  repaid  by  the  happiness 
he  has  enjoyed  in  going  through  the  biography  of  so  many 
eminent  men,  at  once  ornaments  to  the  church  and  blessings 
to  the  world.  No  part  of  the  globe  has  furnished  brighter 
specimens  of  what  Christian  ministers  should  be,  than  these 
United  States. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  much  either  of  the  materials 
of  which  the  volume  is  composed,  or  the  manner  in  wliich 
they  are  classified.  The  former,  the  editor  believes,  are  all 
true ;  and,  as  to  the  latter,  he  has  done  what  he  could  so  to 
arrange  the  facts  as  to  please  and  to  profit  his  readers.  At  all 
events,  here  is  a  volume  perfectly  unique — unlike  every  thing 
else  in  the  language. 


VI  PREFACE. 

In  carrying  out  his  design,  the  editor  has  found  materials 
accumulate  on  his  hands  far  beyond  the  capabilities  of  a  single 
volume.  Whether  the  other  collections  shall  see  the  light, 
remains  in  a  very  great  degree  for  the  readers  of  this  volume 
to  decide.  He  has  contemplated  somewhat  even  beyond  this, 
and  would  be  happy  to  furnish  one  or  two  volumes  of  import- 
ant and  valuable  specimens  of  American  pulpit  eloquence. 
Time  will  decide  as  to  whether  these  projected  volumes  may 
hereafter  be  called  for  and  published. 

The  Editor  has  now  only  to  commend  his  volume  to  the 
blessinor  of  God  and  the  friendship  of  the  Reader. 

PHiiADEtPHiA,  July,  184& 


CONTENTS. 


PREPARATION   OF   THE    CLERGY    FOR    PUBLIC    DUTIES. 


Rev.  William  Robinson, 

Rev.  Hugh  Knox, 

Rev.  Mr.  A. 

Rev.  Mr.  Ravencross, 

A  New  England  Divine, 

Two  Clergymen, 

An  Able  Minister, 

Six  Young  Ministers, 

Several  Young  Ministers, 

Rev.  J.  W.  James,     • 

A  Young  Clergyman, 

A  New  England  Clergyman, 

Rev.  Mr.  Polk, 

Rev.  S.  Nightingale, 

Rev.  S.  Stoddard, 

Rev.  Dr.  M'Cartee,     . 

A  Pious  Bishop, 

A  Zealous  Minister, 

Rev.  W.  Cooper, 

A  New  England  Minister, 

Rev.  Dr.  West, 

An  Old  Clergyman, 

The  Beecher  Family, 

Rev.  Joseph  Eastburn, 

Rev.  Mr.  C, 

Rev.  President  Edwards, 

Rev.  Dr.  Dwight, 

Several  Young  Clergymen, 

Rev.  Mr.  Japhet, 

Rev.  Dr.  Patten, 

Rev.  W.  Tennent, 

Rev.  S.  Blythe, 

An  Indian  Preacher, 

Rev.  Charles  Beatty, 


•  •  •  * 


PAGE 
17 

18 

22 

22 

23 

25 

27 

28 

30 

33 

34 

35 

36 

37 

38 

38 

40 

4U 

41 

42 

42 

44 

44 

46 

47 

48 

48 

49 

53 

54 

54 

57 

58 

5'J 


vm 


COJfTENTS. 


Rev.  President  Davies, 

Rev.  Dr.  Rodgers, 

Rev.  Dr.  Harris, 

Rev.  Dr.  King, 

Rev.  Dr.  King  and  Rev.  H.  Lyman, 

A  Clergyman, 

An  Indian  Missionary, 

Several  Clergymen, 

A  Young  Minister, 

Rev.  Mr.  Willey, 

Rev.  Dr.  Griffin, 

Several  Eminent  Clergymen, 

Rev.  E.  T.  Taylor, 

Rev.  Dr.  Payson, 

Rev.  Dr.  Strong, 


60 
61 
63 

64 
65 
68 
69 
71 
71 
72 
73 
74 
76 
78 
7i) 


INCIDENTS   CONNECTED    WITH    THE   PULPIT  LABOURS   OF   THE   CLERGY. 


Rev.  Dr.  Rodgers, 

Rev.  Mr.  S., 

A  Clergyman  in  Indiana, 

Rev.  J.  Kennaday, 

Rev.  Dr.  Griffin, 

Rev.  W.  Robinson, 

A  Clergyman  in  Maine, 

An  Indian  Missionary, 

An  Impressive  Preacher, 

Rev.  Dr.  Payson, 

Rev.  E.  T.  Taylor, 

Rev.  Sylvester  Larned, 

Rev.  Dr.  Fisk, 

Two  Clergymen, 

Rev.  Dr.  Bedell, 

Rev.  Dr.  Miller, 

Rev.  T.  Hooker, 

A  Forcible  Preacher, 

Rev.  Dr.  Staughton, 

Rev.  Dr.  Humphrey, 

A  Faithful  Minister, 

Rev.  W.  Tennent, 

Rev.  Bradford  Homer, 

Rev.  Mr.  Howe, 

Rev.  Dr.  Lathrop, 

Rev.  Dr.  Beecher, 

An  Effective  Clergyman, 

Rev.  Dr.  Mercer, 

A  New  England  Clergyman, 

Rev.  T.  Porter, 

Rev.  Mr.  Rawson, 


•  •  • 

•  •  • 

9  •  • 


83 

87 

88 

89 

90 

94 

95 

96 

103 

104 

106 

107 

108 

109 

109 

111 

111 

112 

113 

115 

116 

117 

120 

122 

122 

123 

124 

125 

130 

130 

131 


CONTENTS. 


Rev.  Dr.  Welsh, 

An  Aged  Clergyman, 

Rev.  John  Sunday, 

Rev.  George  Whitefield, 

Rev.  Mr.  Bennett, 

Rev.  Dr.  Hitchcock, 

A  Minister  in  New  England, 

Rev.  Mr,  S., 

Rev.  Dr.  Stillman, 

An  Eminent  Clergyman, 

Rev.  Mr.  Gillespie, 

Rev.  Mr.  Moody, 

Rev.  Mr.  Willard, 

Rev.  Mr.  Truair,        .         •  . 

Rev.  Dr.  Waddell, 

Peter,  the  Indian  Preacher, 

Rev.  Z.  Adams, 

A  Clergyman  in  Massachusetts, 

A  Good  Preacher, 

Rev.  Mr.  S., 

Rev.  President  Edwards, 

A  Methodist  Clergyman, 

An  Eccentric  Clergyman, 

Rev.  President  Davies, 

Rev.  Renjamin  Harvey, 

A  New  England  Clergyman, 

Colored  Preachers, 

iev.  Dr.  J.  M.  Mason, 

iev.  Dr.  F., 

lev.  Mr.  Stevens,  . 

ilev.  B.  Sfandford, 

.Several  Clergymen, 

Rev.  Professor  Sheppard, 

Rev.  Dr.  Stanford,  . 

x\.  Universalist  Minister, 

Rev.  John  Eliot, 

Rev.  John  Gano, 

A  Clergyman, 

A  Practical  Preacher, 

Rev.  Luther  Rice, 

Rev.  John  Summerfield, 

A  Young  Clergyman, 


DEVOTEDNESS    OF    CLERGYMEN    TO   THEIR   LABOURS. 

Jrev.  John  Brock,  .  •  •  •  • 

Rev.  President  Davies,  .  .  .  •  • 

Bishop  Griswold,  .  .  .  .  • 

A  Missionary  in  New  York,  .  .  .  • 


189 
190 
191 
193 


CX>MT£NT8. 


llev.  S.  Stoddard, 

Rev.  S.  H.  Stearns, 

Rev.  G.  Whitefield, 

A  City  Minister, 

Rev.  S.  Allen, 

Rev.  Dr.  J.  M.  Mason, 

Rev.  President  Edwards, 

Rev.  John  Eliot, 

Rev.  Dr.  Rodgers, 

Rev.  Dr.  Manning, 

Rev.  D.  Tins  ley, 

Rev.  Dr.  Coke,  .  , 

Rev.  Dr.  Chaplin, 

Rev.  Dr.  Rice, 

Rev.  Dr.  Payson, 

Rev.  John  Shepherd, 

Rev.  Dr.  Byles, 

Rev.  Dr.  Dwight, 

Rev.  Dr.  Nott, 

A  Popular  Minister, 

Rev.  Dr.  Porter, 

A  Missionary  to  the  Indians, 

Rev.  Dr.  Beecher, 

A  Devoted  Pastor, 

Rev.  Dr.  Mather, 

Rev.  Mr.  Bailey, 

Rev.  Mr.  Backus, 

Rev.  Dr.  Mercer, 

Bishop  Asbury, 


INTERCOURSE    OF   THE   CLERGY    WITH   EACH   OTHER 


Rev.  Dr.  Rodgers,  : 

Thoughtless  Ministers, 

Rev.  Dr.  Stanford, 

Rev.  Dr.  Harris, 

A  Minister  in  New  Hampshire, 

Rev.  Gideon  Hawley, 

A  Minister, 

Rev.  Joseph  Craig, 

A  Universalist  Preacher, 

Rev.  Dr.  Livingston, 

Two  Clergymen, 

A  Baptist  Clergyman, 

Itev.  Dr.  Emmons, 

Rev.  Dr.  Dwight, 

Rev.  Dr.  Scudder, 

Rev.  Thomas  Brown, 

Rev.  Dr.  Taylor, 


CONTENTS. 


XI 


Rev.  Lemuel  Haynes, 

Rev.  Dr.  Nettleton, 

Aged  Clergymen, 

Two  Clergymen, 

Rev.  Dr.  Furman, 

Rev.  Dr.  Pond, 

Rev.  Drs.  Cooper  and  Chauncey, 

Two  Ministers, 

Rev.  Dr.  Staughton, 

Rev.  Dr.  Payson, 

Rev.  John  Eliot, 

Rev.  Dr.  Lathrop,       .  , 

A  Persecuting  Clergyman, 

Bishop  George, 

Two  Young  Ministers, 

Rev.  Dr.  Bellamy, 

Two  Clergymen, 

Rev.  George  Whitefield, 

.Several  Clergymen, 

Rev.  John  Jjeland, 

Rev.  Dr.  Mercer, 

Rev.  Caleb  Blood, 


INTERCOURSE    OF   THE  CLEROT    WITH  SOCIETY 

Bishop  Chase, 

A  Faithful  Minister, 

Travelling  Clergymen, 

Rev.  Dr.  Armstrong, 

A  Young  Minister  in  the  West, 

A  Colored  Preacher, 

Rev.  Mr.  Moody, 

An  Unsuccessful  Minister, 

Rev.  Thomas  Brown, 

An  African  Preacher, 

Rev.  Dr.  Staughton, 

A  Presbyterian  Clergyman, 

A  Delighted  Minister, 

A  Wise  Pastor, 

A  Clergyman  in  Virginia, 

Rev.  Dr.'  Nettleton, 

A  Baptist  Minister, 

A  Poor  Minister, 

A  Courteous  Clergyman, 

Rev.  Joseph  Eastburn, 

Rev.  John  Wesley, 

Rev.  Dr.  Spring, 

Rev.  Mr.  Clap, 

Rev.  Dr.  Waddell,      . 


Xll 


CONTENTS. 


Kev.  Mr.  Spencer, 

Rev.  Bela  Jacobs, 

Kev.  Mr.  Estabrook, 

An  Anxious  Pastor, 

A  Clergyman, 

Rev.  Dr.  Judson, 

A  Good  Pastor, 

A  Minister  in  New  York, 

Bishop  Griswold, 

A  New  England  Clergyman, 

Rev.  Dr.  Mercer, 

A  Clergyman  in  Philadelphia, 

Rev.  Mr.  F.,    . 

A  Faithful  Minister, 

A  Minister  in  Boston, 

Two  Clergymen, 

Rev.  John  Gano, 

Rev.  T.  P.  Benedict, 

An  Unknown  Preacher, 

Rev.  Samuel  Harris, 

Rev.  Dr.  Laidlie, 

An  Aged  Minister, 

Rev.  Dr.  Stanford, 

A  Village  Clergyman, 

A  Travelling  Minister, 

Rev.  Mr.  Grafton, 

Rev.  Calvin  Colton, 

Rev.  Dr.  Beecher, 

Rev.  Dr.  C, 

Rev.  Mr.  Coley, 

A  Clergyman  in  New  York, 

Rev.  E.  Byne, 

Rev.  Mr.  Baker, 

Rev.  Dr.  Todd, 

A  Clergyman  in  Tennessee, 

Rev.  W.  Tennent, 

An  Aged  Clergyman, 

Rev.  Dr.  Harris, 

Rev.  Mr.  Hyde, 

Several  Clergymen, 

A  New  England  Minister, 

Rev.  Dr.  Griffin, 

A  Penitent  Minister, 

A  Universalist  Minister, 

A  Methodist  Clergyman, 

A  New  England  Clergyman, 

Rev.  Dr.  Witherspoon, 

A  Good  Preacher, 

Rev.  Dr.  Baldwin,      . 


CONTENTS. 


Xtll 


Kev.  Mr.  Bushnel, 

Rev.  Mr.  Walker, 

A  Clergyman  in  Virginia, 

Rev.  John  Cotton, 

Rev.  Dr.  Coke, 

Rev.  Mr.  Cross, 

Rev.  Dr.  C.  Mather, 

An  Aged  Clergyman, 

Rev.  Mr.  Bennett, 

Rev.  Dr.  L., 

A  Wise  Clergyman, 

Rev.  Mr.  Hull, 

Rev.  John  yummerfield, 

Rev.  Dr.  J.  M.  Mason, 

Rev.  Mr.  Worcester, 

Rev.  J.  Armstrong, 

A  Clergyman  at  New  Orleans, 

Rev.  Mr.  Case, 

Rev.  Dr.  Lathrop, 

Rev.  T.  Hooker, 

Rev.  Mr.  C, 

A  Pastor, 

Rev.  Dr.  Livingston, 

Rev.  Dr.  John  H.  Rice, 

Rev.  Dr.  Payson, 

A  Minister  in  New  York, 

A  Clergyman  at  St.  Louis, 

Rev.  Dr.  Henry, 

Rev.  Mr.  Trefit, 

A  Shrewd  Minister, 

A  Travelling  Clergyman, 


SUCCESS  AND  ENCOURAGEMENT  OF  THE  CLERGY. 


Rev.  President  Edwards, 

Rev.  Mr.  S., 

Rev.  Dr.  Rodgers, 

A  Universalist  Minister, 

Rev.  John  Bailey, 

An  Aged  Minister, 

Several  Pastors, 

American  Missionaries, 

The  Puritan  Ministers, 

Rev.  Dr.  L.  Beecher, 

Rev.  Dr.  Hopkins, 

Rev.  J.  Patterson, 

Rev.  Mr.  M;, 

A  Clergyman  in  New  York, 

A  New  England  Minister, 


XIV 


CONTENTS. 


Tlev.  Mr.  Pnnce, 

Bishop  M'llvaine, 

A  Minister  among  the  Cherokees, 

A  Preacher  from  England, 

Rev.  G.  Whitefield, 

A  Mistaken  Minister, 

Rev.  David  Brainerd, 

Rev.  President  Davies, 

Rev.  Gilbert  Tennent,  • 

Rev.  Dr.  B., 

Rev.  Dr.  Backus,  .  • 

A  Home  Missionary, 

A  Minister  in  New  York, 

Rev.  Mr.  Massey, 

A  Discouraged  Young  Minister, 

Rev.  Dr.  Stanford, 

A  New  England  Minister, 

A  Southern  Clergyman, 

Rev.  Joseph  Smith, 

A  Missionary  among  the  Indians, 

Moravian  Missionaries,  • 

A  Discouraged  Pastor, 

Rev.  Sylvester  Lamed, 

A  Clergyman, 


444 
446 
447 
448 
449 
450 
451 
452 
453 
454 
455 
455 
457 
458 
459 
460 
461 
462 
463 
466 
467 
468 
469 
469 


PREPARATION  OF  THE  CLERGY  FOR  PUBLIC 

DUTIES. 


(15) 


THE 


AMERICAN  CLERGY. 


REV.  WILLIAM  ROBINSON. 


One  of  the  most  eminent  Christian  ministers  of  the  South 
-n  the  last  century  was  the  Rev.  W.  Robinson,  whose  conver- 
sion  was  exceedingly  striking.  He  was  the  son  of  a  wealthy 
Quaker  in  England.  Being  permitted  to  pay  a  visit  of  a  few 
weeks  to  an  aunt  in  the  city  of  London,  from  whom  he  had 
considerable  expectations,  he  greatly  overstayed  the  time  which 
had  been  allowed  him  ;  and  becoming  deeply  involved  in  dis- 
sipation, he  incurred  large  debts,  which  he  knew  his  father 
would  never  pay,  and  which  his  aunt  refused  to  discharge.  In 
this  situation,  fearing  to  return  home,  and  unable  to  remain 
long  in  London,  he  determined  to  quit  his  native  country,  and 
seek  his  fortune  in  America.  In  this  determination  his  aunt 
reluctantly  acquiesced,  and  furnished  him  with  a  small  sum  of 
money  for  that  purpose.  Soon  after  his  arrival  in  America, 
he  had  recourse,  for  subsistence,  to  teaching  a  school  in  New 
Jersey,  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Bruns- 
wick. He  had  been  for  some  time  engaged  in  this  business, 
without  any  practical  sense  of  religion,  when  it  pleased  God 
to  bring  him  to  a  knowledge  of  himself,  and  of  the  way  of  sal- 
vation,  in  a  remarkable  manner.  He  was  riding  at  a  late  hour, 
one  evening,  when  the  moon  and  stars  shone  with  unusual 
brightness,  and  when  every  thing  around  him  was  adapted  to 

"2*  ri7) 


18  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

excite  reflection.  While  he  was  meditating  on  the  beauty  and 
grandeur  of  the  scene  which  the  firmament  presented,  and  was 
saying  to  himself,  "  How  transcendently  glorious  must  be  the 
Author  of  all  this  beauty  and  grandeur  I"  the  thought  struck 
him  with  the  sadness  and  the  force  of  lightning,  "  But  what  do 
I  know  of  this  God  ?  Have  I  ever  sought  his  favor,  or  made 
him  my  friend  ?"  This  happy  impression,  which  proved,  by 
its  permanency  and  its  effects,  to  have  come  from  the  best  of 
all  sources,  never  left  him  until  he  took  refuge  in  Christ  as  the 
hope  and  life  of  his  soul.  He  soon  resolved  to  devote  himself 
to  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry ;  completed  his  academical 
education,  and  studied  theology,  while  he  went  on  with  his 
school ;  and  was,  in  due  time,  licensed  and  ordained  by  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick.  He  was  remarkable  for  the 
native  vigor  of  his  mind,  and  still  more  for  the  fervour  of  his 
piety.  Wherever  he  went,  it  pleased  God  to  grant  him  some 
precious  fruits  of  his  ministry.  He  died  at  St.  George's,  in 
Delaware,  April,  1746. 


REV.  HUGH  KNOX. 


Mr.  Hugh  Knox,  a  native  of  Ireland,  came  to  America, 
when  quite  a  young  man,  about  1753  or  1754.  He  immediately 
waited  on  his  countryman,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Francis  Allison,  then 
residing  at  New  London,  Penna.,  to  whom  he  had  letters,  and 
in  whose  academy  he  hoped  to  find  employment  as  a  teacher. 
Dr.  Allison,  not  being  able  to  give  him  a  place  in  his  seminary, 
furnished  him  with  a  letter  to  Mr.  Rodgers,  requesting  his 
good  offices  in  endeavouring  to  procure  a  grammar  school  for 
the  young  stranger,  within  the  bounds  of  his  parish.  Mr.  Rod- 
gers soon  succeeded    in   forming  a  respectable  school,  at  the 


REV.    HUGH    KNOX.  19 

Head  of  Bohemia,  about  ten  miles  from  St.  George's,  as  ma». 
ter  of  which  Mr.  Knox  was  comfortably  placed.  He  conti- 
nued  to  preside  over  this  school  for  more  than  a  year ;  and 
having  received  a  good  classical  education  in  his  own  country, 
being  remarkably  prepossessing  in  his  personal  appearance 
and  manners,  and  attending  with  great  assiduity  to  the  duties 
of  his  station,  he  soon  became  much  esteemed  by  his  employ- 
ers; and  was  considered  as  most  agreeably  settled.  He  at- 
tended public  worship,  with  great  punctuality,  at  Mr.  Rodgers's 
Lower  or  Forest  church,  near  Middletown,  and  looked  up  to 
the  pastor  as  his  patron  and  friend.  Things  had  been  going 
on  in  this  happy  and  promising  manner  for  a  number  of  months, 
when  a  sudden  reverse  occurred.  Mr.  Knox,  though  a  respect- 
abre  attendant  on  public  worship,  and  a  young  man,  hitherto, 
of  decent  morals,  had  manifested  nothmg  like  real  piety.  He 
was  accustomed,  every  Saturday  afternoon,  to  meet  some  gay 
companions  at  the  tavern  of  a  Mr.  VVitherspoon,  near  the  place 
of  his  residence,  with  whom  he  passed  several  hours,  at  first 
with  decency  and  temperance ;  but,  after  a  while,  not  so  entire- 
ly in  this  manner  as  could  have  been  wished.  On  a  certain 
Saturday  afternoon,  when  Knox  and  his  companions  had  been 
diverting  themselves  m  their  usual  way,  some  of  the  company 
said  to  him,  "  Come,  parson,"  (a  title  they  gave  to  him  on  ac- 
count of  his  being  the  most  grave  of  their  number,  and  a  great 
admirer  of  Mr.  Rodgers,)  "  Come,  parson,  give  us  a  sermon." 
He  declined.  They  urged  him.  He  still  resisted.  At  length, 
however,  overcome  by  their  importunity,  and  probably  excited, 
m  some  degree,  by  liquor,  he  said,  "  Well,  come,  I  will  give 
you  the  sermon  which  Mr.  Rodgers  preached  last  Sunday.' 
Mr.  Rodgers  had  preached,  on  the  preceding  Sabbath,  from  2 
Cor.  V.  20,  and  had  given  an  unusually  solemn  and  excellent 
discourse.  Mr.  Knox,  having  a  good  memory,  a  flexible  voice, 
and  great  powers  of  imitation,  was  enabled,  not  only  (o  recol- 
lect and  repeat  the  substance  of  the  discourse,  as  ho  heard  it 


20  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

delivered,  but  also  to  copy  the  voice  and  manner  of  Mr.  Rod- 
gers  so  closely,  that  Mr.  Wilherspoon,  who  heard  it  all  from 
an  adjoining  apartment,  declared  that,  if  he  had  not  known  to 
the  contrary,  he  should  really  have  supposed  it  was  Mr.  Rod- 
gers  himself  preaching.  In  short,  he  was  carried  beyond  him- 
self, and  spoke  so  much  like  a  man  preaching  the  gospel  in 
good  earnest,  that  his  profane  hearers  were  deeply  affected,  and 
when  the  discourse  was  ended,  one  after  another  silently  with- 
drew. But  what  is  still  more  remarkable,  Mr.  Knox  himself  was 
solemnly  impressed  by  his  own  mock  preaching,  especially  as 
he  drew  towards  the  close  of  the  discourse  ;  and  when  it  was 
finished,  he  sat  down  with  mingled  emotions  of  shame  and 
horror  at  the  profane  mockery  of  which  he  had  been  guilty, 
and  deep  conviction  of  the  important  doctrines  he  had  been  de- 
livering in  application  to  himself.  So  strong,  indeed,  were  these 
impressions,  that  he  could  not  bear  the  thought  of  looking  Mr. 
Rodgers,  or  any  of  his  other  pious  patrons,  in  the  face,  after 
such  conduct :  and  accordingly,  early  the  next  morning,  with- 
out waiting  to  collect  any  of  his  dues,  or  to  adjust  his  affairs, 
he  precipitately  quitted  that  part  of  the  country,  and  was  not 
heard  of  for  a  number  of  months. 

The  next  autumn,  when  Mr.  Rodgers  attended  the  commence- 
ment of  the  college  of  New  Jersey,  which  was  then  seated  at 
Newark,  he  was  surprised  to  find  Mr.  Knox  at  the  house  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Burr,  the  president  of  the  college.  The  young  fugi- 
tive had  applied  to  Mr.  Burr,  soon  after  his  retreat  from  Bo- 
hemia, for  admission  into  one  of  the  classes  of  the  college ; 
but  having  informed  him  that  his  last  residence  had  been  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Mr.  Rodgers,  and  being  unable  to  produce 
testimonials  from  that  place  of  his  good  moral  character,  Mr. 
Burr  advised  him  to  wait  in  Newark  until  the  commencement, 
when  he  expected  to  have  an  opportunity  of  seeing  Mr.  Rod- 
gers, and  of  conversing  with  him  on  the  subject.  Mr.  Knox, 
upon  first  meeting  his  old  pastor,  was  much  agitated,  and,  as 


KEV.    HUGH    KNOX.  21 

soon  as  possible,  took  him  aside ;  acknowledged  his  unworthy 
conduct,  with  every  appearance  of  humiliation  ;  implored  his 
pardon  for  the  offence  committed  against  himself,  in  turnintr  his 
sermon  into  profane  mockery  ;  and  informed  him  of  the  situa- 
tion  in  which  he  stood  with  regard  to  his  expected  admission 
into  the  college.  Mr.  Rodgers  promised  to  speak  as  favourably 
of  him  to  Mr.  Burr  as  truth  would  permit,  and  not  to  disclose 
the  conduct  which  led  to  his  elopement  from  Bohemia,  unless 
it  should  be  drawn  from  him  by  unavoidable  questions  ;  and, 
with  these  promises,  left  him  in  the  most  painful  anxiety. 

Here  Mr.  Rodgers  learned  from  young  Knox,  that  the  seri- 
ous  impressions  made  on  his  mind  by  the  sermon  which  he  ted 
so  profanely  repeated  had  never  been  eradicated  ;  that  his  wick- 
edness had  been  overruled,  as  he  hoped,  for  his  eternal  good ; 
that  he  had  for  some  time  cherished  a  hope  concerning  him- 
self, as  a  real  Christian  ;  and  that  his  earnest  desire  was  to 
complete  his  education  at  the  college  with  a  view  to  the  gospel 
ministry. 

Happily,  president  Burr,  in  the  hurry  of  the  commencement, 
only  asked  Mr.  Rodgers  whether  he  knew  Mr.  Knox ;  and 
whether  he  would  advise  that  he  should  be  admitted  into  the 
college.  To  both  these  questions  Mr.  Rodgers  answtred 
promptly  in  the  affirmative.  The  young  man  was  admitted ; 
passed  through  the  college,  and  his  subsequent  theological  stu- 
dies, with  reputation  ;  and,  after  receiving  many  testimonials 
of  sincere  and  active  friendship  from  his  old  pastor  at  St. 
George's,  entered  on  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry,  and  be- 
came equally  honoured  and  useful  in  his  profession. 


22  THE    AMEKICAN    CLERGY. 


REV.  MR.  A. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  A — ,  of"  B — ,  Mass.,  some  time  since  public- 
ly stated  that  when  a  student  of  law  in  the  vicinity  of  B — , 
and  in  the  midst  of  fatal  error,  he  became  desirous  of  know- 
ing more  about  religious  truth.  He  went  to  B — ,  and  searched 
through  all  the  book-stores  of  that  city,  asking  for  a  copy  of 
Baxter'' s  Samts  Rest,  of  which  he  had  heard  in  his  youth. 
At  last  he  found  an  old,  mutilated  copy,  with  a  green  morocco 
cover,  in  Bumstead's  second-hand  book-store.  He  seized  it 
as  though  it  were  a  treasure,  and  bore  it  home ;  "and  now," 
said  Mr.  A.,  "if  I  ever  attain  to  the  'saints'  everlasting  rest,' 
I  owe  it,  under  God,  to  that  old  book."  He  became  one  of  the 
most  evangelical  and  useful  ministers  in  New  England. 


REV.  MR.  RAVENCROSS. 


Mr.  Ravencross  was  a  slave-holder  in  Virginia,  and  re- 
puted a  hard  master.  His  poor  distressed  slaves  were  in  the 
habit  of  meeting  at  night  in  a  distant  hut,  for  the  purpose  of 
worshipping  God.  He  was  informed  of  this,"  and  at  the  same 
time  put  on  his  guard,  as  it  was  suspected  their  motives  for 
meeting  were  different  from  what  they  held  out,  and  that  an  in- 
surrection might  be  the  consequence.  Under  this  impression, 
he  determined  to  prevent  their  assembling  in  future,  chastised 
the  promoters  of  this  work,  and  gave  positive  orders,  under  the 
most  serious  penalty,  that  they  should  never  assemble  again 
under  any  pretence  whatever.  A  short  time  afler  he  was  told 
they  had  been  seen  going  in  a  body  into  the  hut.     Much  dis- 


A    NEW    ENGLAND    DIVINE,  23 

pleased  at  their  disobedience,  and  resolving  that  night  to  put  a 
stop  to  their  proceedings,  he  approached  the  hut  with  all  the 
feelings  of  an  offended  master.  When  he  reached  the  door, 
it  was  partly  open.  He  looked  in  ;  they  were  on  their  knees. 
He  listened ;  there  was  a  venerable  old  man,  who  had  been 
long  in  his  service,  pouring  out  his  soul  in  prayer  to  God.  The 
first  words  which  caught  his  ear  were,  "Merciful  God,  turn 
my  poor  massa's  heart :  make  him  merciful,  that  he  may  ob- 
tain mercy ;  make  him  good,  that  he  may  inherit  the  kingdom 
of  heaven."  He  heard  no  more,  but  fainted.  Upon  coming 
to  himself,  he  wept ;  went  into  the  sacred  hut,  knelt  by  the 
side  of  his  old  slave,  and  prayed  also  !  From  this  period  he 
became  a  true  penitent,  studied  the  Scriptures,  took  orders,  and 
became  a  shining  light.  He  preached  at  the  general  conven- 
tion of  the  Episcopal  church,  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  before 
more  than  two  hundred  of  the  clergy,  in  the  year  1820. 


A  NEW  ENGLAND  DIVINE. 


A  clergyman  in  New  England,  thus  addressed  his  congrega- 
tion : — 

I  once  knew  a  young  man,  who  was  a  student  in  one  of  our 
universities,  who,  by  reading  the  works  of  Combe,  and  others 
of  similar  character,  had  become  very  skeptical  on  such  points 
as  prayer,  the  total  depravity  of  man,  regeneration,  and  the 
influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Though  he  professed  religion 
and  was  studying  for  the  ministry,  he  had  lost  all  religious  en- 
joyment, and  was  fast  going  down  an  inclined  plane  into  the 
abyss  of  infidelity.  During  a  vacation  in  mid-winter,  he  was 
travelling  on  business  among  the  Germans  in  the  interior  of 


24  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

Pennsylvania,  when  he  was  laid  on  his  bed  with  a  dangerous 
disease — hundreds  of  miles  from  home,  "  a  stranger  in  a  strange 
land."  When  he  began  to  think  of  dying,  he  found  himself 
entirely  unprepared.  His  new  sentiments  hovered  like  dismal 
clouds  around  his  sick-bed,  so  that  not  a  star  of  hope  shone 
through.  There  was  little  time  for  logic  then  :  but  one  short 
mode  of  reasoning  swept  away  his  skeptical  notions  like  chaff. 
He  thus  reasoned  from  effect  to  cause : — Embracing  these  new 
sentiments  has  evidently  brought  my  mind  into  this  wretched 
condition ;  and  as  the  fruit  is  bad,  the  tree  must  be  bad  also. 
He  that  followeth  me,  says  Christ,  "shall  not  walk  in  dark- 
ness ;"  therefore,  as  I  am  walking  in  darkness,  it  must  be  be- 
cause I  have  been  led  astray  from  him.  These  new  opinions 
must,  therefore,  be  erroneous.  I  will  renounce  them  forever, 
and  embrace,  in  all  humility  and  simplicity,  the  truths  of  the 
Gospel,  as  I  embraced  them  at  first.  Speedily  did  he  put  his  re- 
solutions into  action,  and  he  soon  found  his  way  back  to  the 
fold  of  Christ,  to  the  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  souls.  He  re- 
covered from  his  sickness,  and  returned  home,  rejoicing  to  tell 
his  friends  what  great  things  God  had  done  for  him.  And  that 
young  man,  my  hearers,  is  preaching  to  you  to-day !  I  have 
many  blessings  for  which  to  thank  God,  for  he  has  strewn  my 
way  with  the  gifls  of  his  providence  ;  but  for  the  blessing  of 
that  afHiction,  I  sometimes  feel  that  I  ought  to  praise  him 
most.  And  if  I  am  ever  so  happy  as  to  get  to  heaven,  I  shall 
remember  that  affliction  with  gratitude  still. 


TWO    CLERGYMEX.  05 


TWO  CLERGYMEN 


The  following  interesting  statement  of  facts  was  written  by 
Bishop  M'llvaine. 

It  IS  now  nearly  thirteen  years  since  a  very  remarkable 
work  of  grace  occurred  in  the  Military  Academy  of  the  United 
States.  During  a  condition  of  almost  universal  indifference  to 
religion,  and  of  wide-spread  infidelity,  against  which  the  efforts 
of  the  ministry  of  one  man,  set  for  the  defence  of  the  gospel, 
seemed  for  a  long  time  to  make  not  the  least  way,  suddenly 
almost,  in  a  very  few  days,  many  minds,  without  communica- 
tion with  one  another,  and  without  personal  intercourse  with 
the  minister,  appeared  deeply,  and  almost  simultaneously  in- 
terested m  the  great  matters  of  eternal  life.  Officers  as  well 
as  cadets  participated  in  this,  and  to  such  an  extent,  that  the 
minister's  study  was  soon  occupied  every  evening  with  assem- 
blies, composed  of  both,  for  prayer  and  the  exposition  of  the 
word  of  God  ;  and  a  serious  impression,  more  or  less  deep  and 
abiding,  was  spread  over  a  large  part  of  the  whole  military 
community.  Several  became  at  that  period  very  decided  sol- 
diers of  Christ.  Many  others  received  the  seed  of  the  word, 
in  whom,  though  it  seemed  to  die,  it  has  since,  under  the  con- 
tinued influence  of  the  Spirit,  sprung  up  and  brought  forth 
fruit.  Some  are  still  in  military  life.  Others  have  been,  long 
since,  adorning  the  Christian  profession  in  the  ministry  of  the 
gospel. 

The  very  first  appearance  of  this  work  of  grace,  so  remark- 
ably and  singularly  the  work  of  God,  was  the  coming  of  a 
cadet,  alone  and  most  unexpectedly,  to  introduce  himself  to 
the  chaplain,  and  unburden  the  sorrows  of  a' contrite  heart. 
k\\  around  him  was  coldness  and  skepticism.  To  speak  de- 
cidedly in  favour  of  religion  was  then  so  unusual  in  the  acadf- 
mv,  that  it  made  one  singular.     To  converse  with  the  rha[). 


26  THE    AMKlilCAN    CLERGY. 

lain  on  that  subject  had  not  been  ventured  by  any,  except  out 
of  opposition  to  the  truth.  That  any  one  would  appear  there 
seriously  seeking  eternal  life,  even  the  chaplain  was  afraid  to 
hope.  A  cadet,  however,  did  venture  to  come,  in  open  day, 
to  the  chaplain's  study,  too  deeply  concerned  to  heed  what 
would  be  said  of  him.  He  was  personally  unknown  to  the 
chaplain.  His  message  he  tried  to  utter,  but  could  not.  Again 
he  tried,  and  again  ;  but  his  heart  was  too  full  for  speech.  At 
length  he  said,  "Tell  me  what  I  must  do  ;  I  have  come  about 
my  soul.  I  know  not  what  I  want ;  I  am  entirely  in  the  dark. 
What  must  I  seek  ?  where  must  I  go  ?  Such  was  the  first  de- 
claration of  one  who,  for  some  days,  had  been  awakened  under 
the  preaching  and  reading  of  the  truth.  A  sermon  preached 
on  the  Scriptures,  and  a  tract,  sent  at  a  venture  from  the  chap- 
lain's study,  to  whomsoever  it  might  meet,  had  been  blessed  to 
his  soul. 

Doubts  and  cavils  were  all  abandoned.  Implicit  submission 
seemed  his  engrossing  principle.  From  that  moment  the  young 
man  appeared  to  take  up  the  cross,  and  to  stand  decidedly  and 
boldly  on  the  Lord's  side.  The  singular  and  very  prominent 
evidence  of  the  hand  of  God  in  this  case,  was  very  greatly 
blessed  to  others.  After  graduating  at  that  institution,  and 
leaving  the  army,  he  passed  through  a  regular  course  of  study 
for  the  holy  ministry,  and  was  successively  ordained  deacon 
and  presbyter.  Many  years  have  since  elapsed.  The  chap- 
lain has  since  been  called  to  a  higher  order  in  the  ministry,  and 
more  enlarged  responsibilities  in  the  church.  The  cadet, 
meanwhile,  after  many  vicissitudes  of  active  duty  and  of  dis- 
abling ill  health,  supposed  he  had  settled  himself  for  the  rest 
of  his  life  as  a  preacher  and  pastor  to  an  humble  and  obscure 
congregation  of  negroes,  whom  he  had  collected  together  from 
neighbouring  plantations  ;  to  whom,  living  entirely  upon  his 
own  pecuniary  means,  he  appropriated  a  part  of  his  own  house 
for  a  church   and   to  whose  eternal   interests   he  had  chosen 


AN    ABLE    MINISTEK.  27 

cheerfully  and  happily  to  devote  himself,  as  their   spiritual 
father,  with  no  emolument  but  their  salvation.     But  such  was 
just  the  true  spirit  for  the  highestof  all  vocations  in  the  church. 
To  be  a  servant  of  servants  is  the  very  school  in  which  to  pro- 
pare  for  the  chief  ministry  under  Him  who  "  took  upon  him- 
self the  form  of  a  servrnt,"     The  church  needed  a  mission- 
ary bishop  for  a  vast  field,  for  great  self-denial,  for  untiring 
patience,  for  courageous  enterprise.     Her  eye  was  directed  to 
the  self-appointed  pastor  of  that  humble  congregation.     With 
most  impressive  unanimity  did  she  call  him  away  to  a  work, 
not  indeed  of  more  dignified  duty,  but  of  more  eminent  re- 
sponsibility r  not  indeed  of  more  exquisite  satisfaction  to  a  Chris- 
tian heart,  (for  what  can  give  a  true  Christian  heart  more  ex- 
quisite satisfaction  than  to  lead  such  of  the  poor  to  Christ  ?) 
but  of  severer  trials,  and  vastly  greater  difhculties  and  hard- 
ships.    Counting  the  cost,  he  has  not  dared  to  decline  it.     Re- 
garding the  call   as  of  God,  he  has  embraced  the  promised 
grace,  and  is  now  ready  to  be  offered.     And  thus  the  chap- 
lain has  here  met  the  beloved  cadet  again,  seeing  and  adoring 
the  end  of  the  Lord  in  that  remarkable  beginning. 


AN  ABLE  MINISTER. 


A  YOUNG  man,  who  had  graduated  at  one  of  the  first  col- 
leo-es  in  America,  and  was  celebrated  for  his  literary  attainments, 
particularly  his  knowledge  of  mathematics,  settled  in  a  village 
where  a  faithful  minister  of  the  gospel  was  stationed.  It  was 
not  long  before  the  clergyman  met  with  him  in  one  of  his 
evening  walks,  and  after  some  conversation,  as  they  wor.^ 
about  to  part,  addressed  him  as  follows  :— "  I  have  heard  you 


28  THE    AMERICAN    CLEKGY. 

are  celebrated  for  your  mathematical  skill ;  I  have  a  problem 
which  I  wish  you  to  solve."  "What  is  it'?"  eagerly  inquired 
the  young  man.  The  clergyman  answered,  with  a  solemn 
tone  of  voice,  "What  shall  it  profit  a  man,  if  he  shall  gain  the 
whole  world,  and  lose  his  own  soul  V  The  youth  returned 
home,  and  endeavoured  to  shake  off  the  impression  fastened 
on  him  by  the  problem  proposed  to  him,  but  in  vain.  In  the 
giddy  round  of  pleasure,  in  his  business,  and  in  his  studies, 
that  question  still  forcibly  returned  to  him,  "What  will  a  man 
profit,  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  his  own  soul  ?" 
It  finally  resulted  in  his  conversion,  and  he  became  an  able 
advocate  and  preacher  of  that  gospel  which  he  once  rejected. 


SIX  YOUNG  MINISTERS. 


There  is  something  in  the  following  narrative  eminently 
illustrative  of  the  vitality  of  the  gospel,  and  adapted  to  encour- 
age the  heart  of  the  Christian  minister  amidst  every  discour^ 
agement.  * 

About  half  a  century  since  a  Christian  church  was  organ- 
ized in  Virginia.  For  some  years  it  eminently  flourished,  but 
after  a  while  the  pastor  died,  some  of  the  members  removed 
to  different  parts  of  the  country,  and  others  returned  into  the 
world.  The  house  of  worship  fell  into  decay,  the  doors  were 
broken  from  their  hinges,  and  the  birds  of  the  air  built  their 
nests  upon  the  deserted  walls.  The  pulpit  bowed  to  its  fall, 
and  utter  desolation  reigned  where  once  the  praises  of  Zion's 
King  had  resounded.  Close  by  arose  a  grog-shop,  and  it  soor 
became  the  Sunday  resort  of  the  young  and  old  in  the  vicinity. 
In  that  neighbourhood  lived  a  wealthy  gentleman,  who  had  on* 


SIX    YOUNG    MINISTERS.  29 

son,  a  youth  of  great  promise.  This  youth  was  in  the  practice 
of  spending  his  Sabbaths  with  other  young  men  at  the  grog- 
shop above  named,  though  it  Iiad  not  been  said  that  he  ever 
was  guilty  of  any  outbreaking  immorality.  One  Sabbath,  as 
he  was  going  to  the  general  place  of  rendezvous,  when  pass- 
ing the  old  meeting-house,  he  turned  his  head  and  saw  an  old 
gray-headed  negro  sitting  on  one  of  the  benches.  A  degree  of 
superstitious  fear  came  over  his  mind,  and  an  impression  was 
produced  which  rendered  the  society  at  the  grog-shop  irksome, 
and  he  soon  returned  to  his  father's.  On  the  next  Sabbath,  as 
he  was  again  passing  the  old  house,  he  saw  the  old  negro  again, 
seated  on  a  bench,  leaning  his  head  on  the  top  of  his  staff. 
Riding  up  to  the  window,  he  inquired  of  the  old  man  what  he 
was  doing  there.  "Get  down,  young  master,  and  come  and 
sit  down,  and  I  will  tell  you,"  was  the  reply.  He  accordingly 
went  in  and  took  his  seat  by  the  side  of  the  old  man,  whom  by 
this  time  he  recognised  as  the  aged  servant  of  a  neighbouring 
planter. 

"  Thirty  years  ago,"  proceeded  the  old  man,  with  deep  emo- 
tion, "  I  used  to  come  to  this  house  of  a  Sunday  to  meet  God 
and  his  people.  And  precious  times  we  have  had  here.  This 
house  used  to  be  filled  with  professed  Christians,  engaged  in 
the  service  of  God,  and  anxious  sinners  inquiring  the  way  to 
be  saved.  In  that  old  pulpit,  now  leaning  ready  to  fall,  used 
to  stand  the  servant  of  God,  telling  us  the  precious  truths  of 
the  gospel  of  Jesus.  Now  he  is  dead ;  some  of  the  members 
have  moved  away,  some  gone  back  to  the  world,  and  some  arc 
dead,  while  the  old  house  is  ready  to  fall.  Young  master,  I 
used  in  those  days  to  come  here  to  meet  God.  I  have  come 
here  to-day  to  meet  him  in  this  house,  and  he  has  met  with  mo. 
He  is  here  now."  The  aged  man  then  respectfully,  yet  earn- 
estly, pressed  upon  the  youth  the  importance  of  religion,  and 
the  danger  of  neglect.  "  Young  master,  you  see  my  head,  it 
is  white.     I  was  once  young  like   you.     I  am   now  old  and 

3* 


30  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

• 

shall  soon  die.  And  you  will  die  too.  Are  you  prepared  ?" 
The  young  man  wept,  and  the  old  Christian  proposed  that  they 
should  kneel  down  and  pray  for  the  salvation  of  his  soul.  They 
knelt  down,  and  God  was  there.  During  the  ensuing  week 
the  young  man  was  greatly  distressed,  and  early  the  next  Sab- 
bath morning  repaired  to  the  old  church  to  meet  the  old  negro, 
who  preached  Jesus  to  him  as  the  way,  the  truth,  and  the  life. 
In  a  few  days  the  young  man  obtained  a  hope,  and  by  his  ex- 
ertions, and  the  blessing  of  God's  grace,  an  extensive  revival 
of  religion  very  soon  commenced.  A  new  church  was  soon 
organized,  the  old  house  was  repaired,  a  minister  settled,  and 
many  were  converted  to  the  faith  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  As  one  of 
the  fruits  of  that  revival,  six  individuals  from  that  neighbour- 
heed  entered  upon  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  the  Lord 
greatly  blessed  their  labours.  One  person  converted  at  this 
time  became  afterwards  the  governor  of  a  state,  and  died,  after 
a  life  of  usefulness,  as  the  righteous  die.  These  facts  were 
communicated  to  the  writer  since  by  a  person  who  received 
them  from  some  who  were  themselves  the  subjects  of  the  re- 
vival. 


SEVERAL  YOUNG  MINISTERS. 

As  the  following  facts  connect  themselves,  as  it  will  be  seen, 
with  the  conversion  of  more  than  one  minister ;  they  are  here 
narrated,  on  the  authority  of  a  pious  pastor.  An  old  man 
called  his  children  around  his  dying-bed,  and  entreated  their 
attention  to  a  narrative  : — 

When  young,  I  enjoyed  religious  privileges,  and  was  the 
subject  of  occasional  serious  reflection.     When  just  enterinij^ 


^% 


SEVERAL    YOUNG    MIKISTERS.  81 

my  sixteenth  year,  religious  impressions  were  made  on  my 
mind  with  unusual  force.  I  seemed  to  hear  a  voice  continually 
saying  to  me,  Seek  religion  now  !  I  was  unhappy  ;  my  for- 
mer amusements  lost  their  relish.  Still,  I  was  not  v/illinfr 
whqlly  to  relinquish  them,  and  obey  the  voice  which  urged  me 
to  seek  religion  immediately.  One  day,  after  much  reflection, 
I  deliberately  promised  to  God,  that  as  soon  as  the  season  of 
youthful  amusement  was  past,  I  would  give  myself  to  religious 
pursuits.  My  anxieties  immediately  left  me  ;  I  returned  to  my 
amusements,  and  the  whole  subject  was  soon  forgotten. 

When  at  thirty-five,  the  monitory  voice  returned,  reminded 
me  of  my  promise,  and  again  pressed  upon  me  the  importance 
of  eternal  things.  Though  I  had  not  thought  of  my  promise 
for  years,  I  acknowledged  its  obligations,  but  an  immediate 
fulfilment  seemed  more  impracticable  than  it  did  nineteen  years 
before. 

I  vowed  with  increased  solemnity,  that  when  the  cares  of  a 
rising  family  should  subside,  I  would  certainly  attend  to  the 
concerns  of  religion. 

Again  I  applied  myself  to  worldly  avocations,  and  soon 
buried  all  thoughts  of  the  admonition  I  had  received.  At  fifty, 
when  you,  my  children,  were  diminishing,  instead  of  increas- 
ing my  cares,  this  heavenly  monitor  returned.  "  Fulfil  your 
promise  ;  seek  religion  now ;"  was  continually  pressing  upon 
my  mind.  I  knew  that  I  had  made  such  a  promise,  but  I  felt 
dissatisfied  that  its  fulfilment  should  be  claimed  so  soon.  I  re- 
gretted that  I  had  not  attended  to  the  subject  before,  when  I 
could  have  done  it  with  less  difficulty;  but  such  was  the  extent 
and  pressure  of  my  business,  that  to  do  it  then  seemed  im- 
possible. The  subject  made  me  unhappy,  and  after  much  de- 
liberation, I  sought  relief  to  my  troubled  feelings  by  most  so- 
lemnly renewing  my  promise  to  God.  When,  I  said,  the  press- 
ure  of  business  is  past,  I  will  devote  my  whole  attention  to  a 
preparation  for  eternity. 


32  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

No  sooner  had  I  fixed  my  mind  on  this  course,  than  my 
anxieties  left  me — the  strivings  of  the  Spirit  ceased  in  my 
bosom,  and  ceased  for  ever.  When  sickness  warned  me  of  ap- 
proaching death,  I  sought  to  fix  my  feelings  on  this  subject, 
but  it  was  in  vain.  There  was  a  gloom  and  terror  drawn 
around  religion,  at  which  my  soul  shuddered.  I  felt  that  I  was 
forsaken  of  God,  but  it  did  not  move  me.  I  had  no  love  to 
God,  no  repentance  for  sin,  nor  wish  to  forsake  it.  I  felt  no- 
thing but  the  sullen  gloom  of  despair — I  knew  I  was  in  the 
hands  of  a  justly  offended  God,  from  whom  I  expected  no 
mercy,  and  could  ask  none.  With  these  feelings  I  am  now 
about  to  enter  the  eternal  world.  To  you,  my  children,  I  can 
only  say — Profit  by  my  example  ;  quench  not  the  Spirit ;  seek 
religion  now,  if  you  would  avoid  a  miserable  eternity — put  not 

off  the  concerns  of  your  soul  till The  sentence  died  upon 

his  lips ;  his  strength,  which  had  been  all  summoned  to  make 
this  last  effort,  suddenly  failed — he  fell  back  upon  his  bed,  and 
with  a  groan  that  seemed  to  speak  the  pains  of  another  world, 
the  immortal  spirit  took  its  flight  from  that  body  which  it  had 
inhabited  nearly  fourscore  years,  to  receive  according  to  that 
it  had  done. 

This  little  narrative  I  had  from  a  grandson  of  the  old  man, 
who  stood  by  his  dying  bed.  He  was  a  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel, and  dated  his  first  permanent  conviction  from  the  solem- 
nities of  that  awful  scene.  The  descendants  of  the  old  man 
were  numerous,  most  of  whom  became  hopefully  pious.  Two, 
who  are  now  preachers,  and  several  others,  were  first  awaken- 
ed by  his  dying  charge. 


REV.    J.    W.    JAaiES.  33 


REV.  J.  W.  JAMES. 


In  a  lecture  to  Sunday-school  teachers,  a  few  years  since, 
the  Rev.  J.  W.  James,  of  Philadelphia,  related  the  follcJwing 
n.arrative  : — 

A  young  man  who  had  been  piously  educated,  and  whose 
religious  impressions  in  early  life  had  been  strong,  while  at 
college  mingled  with  worldly  and  gay  companions ;  so  that  in 
a  short  time  he  ceased  to  be  serious  or  prayerful.  He  gradu- 
ated as  worldly  and  careless  as  his  classmates,  and  removed  to 
a  distant  city.  Ambitious  of  eminence  in  the  profession  he  had 
chosen,  he  secluded  himself  from  society,  not  from  fear  of  its 
contamination,  but  to  preserve  his  time  from  unnecessary  waste. 
While  thus  engaged,  he  became  acquainted  with  the  pious 
superintendent  of  a  Sabbath-school,  whom  he  was  not  long 
after  invited  to  succeed.  After  much  persuasion  he  reluctantly 
consented,  but  was  unacquainted  with  the  duties  of  the  school. 
On  finding  that  he  must  open  the  school  with  prayer,  he  started 
and  turned  pale.  He  had  formerly  been  taught  by  his  mother 
to  pray,  but  he  had  now  forgotten  how  to  address  the  Author 
of  his  mercies.  By  the  aid  of  the  prayer-book  he  succeeded, 
but  his  conscience  allowed  him  no  rest.  He  could  not  retire 
from  the  work.  For  some  weeks  he  endured  the  lashes  of  an 
awakened  and  guilty  conscience,  until  at  length,  by  the  assist- 
ance of  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  was  enabled  to  give  up  all  for  Christ. 
He  retained  his  office  of  superintendent  for  more  than  a  year ; 
then,  at  length,  after  a  course  of  theology,  was  settled  as  a 
Christian  pastor  in  one  of  the  Atlantic  cities,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  winning  souls  to  Christianity ;  *'  and  now,"  he 
added, — and  his  face  grew  pale,  and  his  limbs  trembled  with 
emotion  as  he  spoke — "  and  now,  he  has  the  satisfaction  of 
addressing  this  assemblage  of  superintendents  and  teachers." 


34  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


A  YOUNG  CLERGYMAN. 


A  YOUNG  licentiate,  after  throwing  off  a  highly  wrought,  and, 
as  he'thought,  eloquent  gospel  sermon  in  the  pulpit,  in  the  pre- 
sence of  a  veneKable  pastor,  solicited  of  his  experienced  friend 
the  benefit  of  his  criticisms  upon  the  performance. 

"  I  have  but  just  one  remark  to  make,"  was  his  reply,  "  and 
that  is,  to  request  you  to  pray  that  sermon." 

"What  do  you  mean,  sir?" 

"  I  mean  literally  just  what  I  say ;  pray  it,  if  you  can,  and 
you  will  find  the  attempt  a  better  criticism  than  any  I  can  make 
upon  it." 

The  request  still  puzzled  the  young  man  beyond  measure  ; 
the  idea  of  praying  a  sermon  was  a  thing  he  never  heard  or 
conceived  of;  and  the  singularity  of  the  suggestion  wrought 
powerfully  on  his  imagination  and  feelings.  He  resolved  to 
attempt  the  task.  He  laid  his  manuscript  before  him,  and  on 
his  knees  before  God,  undertook  to  make  it  into  a  prayer.  But 
it  would  not  pray ;  the  spirit  of  prayer  was  not  in  it,  and  that, 
for  the  very  good  reason — as  he  then  clearly  saw  for  the  first 
time — that  the  spirit  of  prayer  and  piety  did  not  compose  it. 
For  the  first  time  he  saw  that  his  heart  was  not  right  with 
God ;  and  this  conviction  left  him  no  peace  until  he  had 
"  Christ  formed  in  him  the  hope  of  glory."  With  a  renewed 
heart,  he  applied  himself  anew  to  the  work  of  composing  ser- 
mons for  the  pulpit ;  preached  again  in  the  presence  of  the 
pious  pastor  who  had  given  such  timely  advice ;  and  again 
solicited  the  benefit  of  his  critical  remarks. 

*'  I  have  no  remarks  to  make,"  was  his  complacent  reply, 
"  you  can  pray  that  sermon." 


A    NEW    ENGLAND    CLEKGYMAN.  85 


A  NEW  ENGLAND  CLERGYMAN. 

A  FEW  years  ago,  a  gay  lady  in  New  England  had  occa- 
sion to  go  to  a  neighbouring  town,  where  she  had  often  been 
before.  In  the  immediate  vicinity  was  a  stream  which  she  had 
to  go  near,  and  which  at  this  period  was  high.  With  a  view 
of  showing  her  courage  to  a  young  person  whom  she  had  taken 
with  her  as  a  companion,  she  went  into  the  stream  with  her 
horse,  and  in  a  very  little  time  was  thrown  into  the  water, — 
had  already  sunk  once  or  twice  to  the  bottom,  and  felt  that  she 
was  within  a  few  moments  of  an  eternal  world,  without  being 
prepared  for  so  great  a  change. 

It  so  happened,  that  a  young  man  in  another  neighbouring 
town  had  felt  a  powerful  impression  on  his  mind  that  morning, 
that  he  should  visit  the  same  place.  He  had  no  business  to 
transact ;  but,  being  forcibly  impressed  with  the  importance  of 
going  thither,  he  invited  a  young  man  to  accompany  him.  Ar- 
riving at  the  side  of  the  stream  just  as  the  young  ladies  were 
about  to  cross  it,  they  saw  it  was  improbable  that  they  could 
ford  it ;  yet,  as  the  ladies  went,  they  determined  to  follow. 

By.  the  time  the  young  lady  was  thrown  from  her  horse,  the 
others  had  nearly  reached  the  opposite  shore  ;  but,  perceiving 
her  danger,  one  of  them  immediately  followed  her  on  his 
horse,  and  in  the  last  moment  of  life,  as  it  then  appeared,  she 
caught  hold  of  the  horse's  leg;  he  thus  secured  her,  and 
snatching  hold  of  the  other  drowning  young  lady,  she  was 
saved  also.  After  the  use  of  proper  remedies,  they  recovered  ; 
and  the  young  gentlemen,  believing  that  the  design  of  their 
coming  from  home  waS  now  answered,  returned  back. 

The  impressions  made  on  the  mind  of  this  young  lady  were 
permanent,  and  she  was  led  to  reflect  on  the  sins  she  had  com- 
mitted  against  God,  to  pray  for  the  pardon  of  her  guilt,  nn(i  to 


36  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

devote  herself  to  the  Divine  service.  She  embraced  the  mercy 
of  the  Lord,  believing  in  the  Redeemer,  who  alone  saves  from 
the  wrath  to  come. 

In  the  same  town  with  herself  lived  a  young  gentleman,  who 
had  often  spent  his  hours  in  vain  conversation  with  her.  On 
her  return  home,  he  went  to  congratulate  her  on  her  escape, 
and  to  his  surprise,  found  she  attributed  her  deliverance  to  the 
power  of  God,  and  urged  him  to  seek  that  grace  which  they 
had  both  neglected.  Her  serious  conversation  was  blessed  to  his 
conversion,  and  he  became  a  faithful  minister  of  Jesus  Christ. 


REV.  MR.  POLK. 


The  Rev.  Mr.  Polk,  at  a  general  meeting  of  the  Religious 
Tract  Society,  in  London,  stated,  that  he  had  a  right  to  speak 
of  the  value  of  tracts,  because,  under  God,  he  was  indebted 
for  all  he  knew  of  Christianity  to  a  tract.  In  an  institution  for 
the  education  of  young  men,  in  his  own  country,  out  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  individuals,  there  was  not  one  who  was  a 
Christian ;  and  though  the  minister  laboured  among  them  with 
great  zeal,  he  seemed  to  labour  in  vain.  At  last,  he  got  a 
young  man  to  go  through  the  building,  and  distribute  some 
religious  tracts.  He  left  a  tract  on  infidelity  in  one  of  the 
rooms,  where  two  young  men  lodged  together,  one  of  whom 
was  apparently  of  doubtful  principles.  The  other,  however, 
got  hold  of  it,  and  read  it.  It  arrested  his  attention,  and  set 
his  mind  on  inquiring ;  and  he  afterwards  fell  in  with  Dr.  Olin- 
thus  Gregory's  "Letters,"  which  led  him  to  procure  a  Bible. 
The  truths  of  that  blessed  book  were  brought  home  to  his  mind 
with  great  power,  and  he  became  a  converted  man.     And  Iiis 


REV.    S.    NIGHTINGALE.  37 

conversion  was  the  beginning  of  a  revival  of  religion  in  that 
place,  during  which  twenty  other  young  men,  and  some  of  the 
professors,  became  converted  to  Christ. 


REV.  S.  NIGHTINGALE. 


In  the  beginning  of  1845,  at  a  union  prayer-meeting  in  Phi- 
ladelphia, the  Rev.  S.  Nightingale,  a  Baptist  minister  from 
Montgomery  county,  was  present  by  invitation,  and  at  the  close 
of  an  exhortation  related  the  following  anecdote : 

"  About  twenty  years  ago,  there  was  a  wild  and  daring  lad 
in  the  city,  who  feared  neither  God  nor  man.  One  day  he  was 
thrown  accidentally  into  the  company  of  a  clergyman,  who 
had  some  serious  conversation  with  him  on  religion.  Among 
other  things,  he  told  him  that  it  was  his  opinion,  that  in  after 
life  he  would  either  join  the  army  or  become  a  minister  of 
the  Gospel.  A  few  years  after  this  conversation,  that  boy 
made  a  profession  of  religion  and  entered  the  ministry.  I," 
added  he,  "  am  that  individual ;  and,"  pointing  to  Dr.  Ely, 
who  sat  on  the  platform  beside  him,  "  this  is  the  minister  who 
held  the  conversation  with  me  when  a  boy." 

The  congregation  appeared  electrified ;  and  Dr.  Ely,  who 
had  forgotten  the  boy  in  the  person  of  the  speaker,  now  recol- 
lecting the  circumstance,  started  from  his  chair,  and  embraced 
him. 


38  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


REV.  S.  STODDARD. 


The  Rev.  Solomon  Stoddard,  of  Northampton,  the  prede- 
cessor of  the  far-famed  President  Edwards,  was  engaged  by 
his  people  on  an  emergency.  They  soon  found  themselves  dis- 
appointed, for  he  gave  no  indications  of  a  renewed  and  serious 
mind.  In  this  difficulty  their  resource  was  prayer.  They 
agreed  to  set  apart  a  day  for  special  fasting  and  prayer,  in 
reference  to  their  pastor.  Many  of  the  persons  meeting  for 
this  purpose,  had  necessarily  to  pass  the  door  of  the  minister. 
Mr.  S.  hailed  a  plain  man  whom  he  knew,  and  addressed  him, 
"What  is  all  this!  What  is  doing  to-day?"  The  reply  was, 
"  The  people,  sir,  are  meeting  to  pray  for  your  conversion." 
It  sunk  into  his  heart.  He  exclaimed  to  himself,  "  Then  it  is 
time  I  prayed  for  myself!"  He  was  not  seen  that  day.  He 
was  seeking  in  solitude  what  they  were  asking  in  company  ; 
and  "  while  they  were  yet  speaking,"  they  were  heard  and 
answered.  The  pastor  gave  unquestionable  evidence  of  the 
change ;  he  laboured  amongst  a  beloved  and  devoted  people 
for  nearly  half  a  century;  and  was,  for  that  period,  deservedly 
ranked  among  the  most  able  and  useful  of  Christian  ministers. 


REV.  DR.  M'CARTEE. 


The  Rev.  Dr.  M'Cartee,  of  New  York,  in  delivering  an  ad- 
dress at  a  tract  meeting  in  Philadelphia,  related  the  following 
anecdote : — 

The  mention  of  two  of  the  publications  of  the  American 


REV.    DR.    M'CARTEE.  39 

Tract  Society,  in  your  report,  sir,  has  excited  emotions  in  my 
own  mind  which  I  cannot  repress.  I  well  remember  when  two 
young  lawyers,  both  far  from  God,  and  engaged  in  the  pursuit 
of  the  honours,  and  wealth  of  this  world,  met  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  when,  as  one  took  some  legal  documents  from  his 
pocket,  the  other,  to  his  surprise,  discovered  among  them 
*  Doddridge's  Rise  and  Progress  of  Religion.'  Nor  was 
the  surprise  of  the  first  at  all  less,  when  he  discovered  lying 
on  the  table,  at  the  hand  of  his  fellow,  '  Baxter's  Saints' 
Rest.'  Each  appeared  at  first  confused  and  ashamed  at  the 
discovery,  for  they  had  not  yet  learned  to  glory  in  the  cross. 
But  a  ihw  moments,  however,  had  elapsed,  when  they  mutually 
found  that  the  attention  of  each  had  been  powerfully  arrested 
by  those  volumes,  and  that  each  was  deeply  anxious  for  the 
salvation  of  his  soul.  Together  they  sought  the  Lord  ;  and, 
agonizing  to  enter  into  the  kingdom,  they  both,  about  the  same 
time,  were  enabled  to  hope  in  the  mercy  of  Jesus  Christ  for 
eternal  life.  One  of  them,  having  fought  the  good  fight,  and 
kept  the  faith,  has  long  since  gone  upward,  I  doubt  not,  to  rest 
m  the  bosom  of  the  Saviour  he  loved  and  served.  The  other, 
called,  as  he  believes,  of  God,  became  a  preacher  of  the  Gos- 
pel of  Christ,  and  still  lives  to  proclaim  to  dying  sinners,  in 
his  native  city,  salvation  through  the  blood  and  righteousness 
of  the  blessed  Redeemer ;  and  now,  when  he  finds  your  soci- 
ety engaged  in  sending  , forth,  among  your  other  valuable  pub- 
lications, these  two  precious  volumes,  he  (referring  to  himself) 
presents  himself  before  you  to  add,  this  evening,  his  feeble,  but 
heartfelt  testimony  to  the  excellence  of  the  Tract  Society. 


40  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


A  PIOUS  BISHOP. 


A  WORTHY  and  excellent  bishop  of  the  Episcopal  church, 
was  in  early  life  an  immoral  and  dissipated  man.  Dining  one 
evening  with  a  party  of  gentlemen,  they  sat  late  over  their 
wine,  and  with  a  view  to  promote  merriment,  this  young  man 
sent  for  one  of  his  slaves,  who  was  in  the  habit  of  preaching 
to  his  companions  in  slavery,  and  ordered  him  to  preach  a  ser- 
mon to  the  company.  The  good  man  hesitated  for  a  time,  but 
at  length  began  to  address  them.  Instead  of  the  mirth,  how- 
ever, which  they  anticipated  from  the  ignorance  and  simplicity 
of  the  poor  man,  the  piety  and  fervour  of  his  discourse  pro- 
duced a  contrary  effect.  The  solemn  truths  he  delivered  sank 
deeply  into  the  hearts  of  some  of  the  company,  and,  through 
the  Divine  blessing,  carried  conviction  to  the  heart  of  his  mas- 
ter, who  now  seriously  inquired  after  the  way  of  salvation  ; 
which  having  learned,  he  began  from  a  sense  of  dnty  to  pub- 
lish the  grace  of  Christ,  and  became  an  ornament  to  the  Chris- 
tian ministry* 


A  ZEALOUS  MINISTER. 


The  Rev.  J.  Perkins,  a  missionary  to  Persia,  has  recorded 
the  following  remarkable  anecdote  in  his  journal ; — A  physi- 
cian, who  had  been  personally  acquainted  with  the  infide' 
Paine,  had  embraced  his  sentiments,  and  was  very  profane 
and  dissipated.  After  striving  for  more  than  a  year  against 
the  convictions  of  the  spirit  of  God,  which  were  so  powerful, 


HEV.    VV.    COOPER.  41 

and  his  stubbornness  so  great,  like  a  bullock  unaccustomed  to 
the  yoke,  as  to  bring  him  to  a  bed  of  long  confinement,  and 
the  most  awful  depression  of  mind,  he  became  an  humble,  zeal- 
ous, exemplary  Christian.  And  as  soon  as  his  health  was 
recovered,  he  qualified  himself,  by  preparatory  studies,  to  go 
forth  to  the  world,  and  preach  that  Jesus,  whom  he  for  many 
years  considered  as  an  impostor,  whose  name  he  had  habitu- 
ally blasphemed,  and  whose  religion  he  had  counted  foolish- 
ness, and  a  base  imposition  on  the  world. 


REV.  W.  COOPER. 


The  late  Rev.  W.  Cooper,  of  Boston,  very  early  in  life  set 
his  heart  upon  being  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ ;  and  this  ob- 
ject of  his  choice  he  never  abandoned.  At  seven  years  old, 
while  hearing  a  sermon  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Colman,  with  whom 
he  afterwards  was  colleague,  he  was  so  attracted  by  the  elo- 
quence of  his  manner,  that  he  went  home  with  a  determination 
to  read  like  him  :  a  circumstance  which  drew  from  that  vene- 
rable man,  who  survived  him,  and  preached  on  the  occasion 
of  his  death,  the  following  humble  but  affectionate  remark :  '*  I 
ought  to  thank  God,  if  I  have  served,  in  any  way,  to  form  him 
for  his  since  eminent  pulpit  services;  and,  in  particular,  his 
method  of  preaching  Christ  and  Scripture.  So  a  torch  may 
be  lighted  at  a  farthing  candle." 


4* 


42  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


A  NEW  ENGLAND  MINISTER 


At  a  missionary  meeting  in  New  Hampshire,  in  1833,  a 
minister  rose  and  said  that  he  once  knew  a  man  in  a  very 
awful  state,  for  whom  the  wood  was  drawn  together,  to  make  a 
cage,  in  which  he  might  be  kept  from  doing  himself  and  others 
injury.  "  While  in  that  slate,  one  solitary  female  prayed  for 
him ;  God  heard  her  prayer,  and  now  he  is  in  the  midst  of 
you,  a  happy  man,  and  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ.  I  am," 
added  he,  "  that  man :  and  that  woman  was  my  wife,  whom  I 
wish  to  honour  by  making  her  a  life  member  of  the  Missionary 
Society." 


REV.  DR.  WEST. 


Mr.,  afterwards  Dr.  Stephen  West,  had  entered  the  ministry, 
and  settled  in  Stockbridge,  while  yet  a  stranger  to  experiment- 
al religion.  Like  other  learned  men,  who  trust  in  their  own 
righteousness,  he  had  laboured  to  accommodate  his  theology 
and  his  preaching  to  his  own  standard  of  personal  religion. 
Two  pious  female  members  of  the  church,  who  had  often 
lamented  their  want  of  spiritual  instruction  and  benefit  from 
the  ministry  of  their  pastor,  at  length  agreed  to  meet  once  a 
week,  to  pray  for  him.  Amidst  many  discouragements,  they 
continued  their  united  supplications  to  the  Hearer  and  An- 
swerer of  prayer ;  but,  as  they  afterwards  remarked,  they  were 
never  both  discouraged  at  the  same  time.  On  leaving  the 
house  of  God,  one  would  say,  "  Wc  have  had  no  food  to-dair  ;" 


REV.    DR.    WEST.  43 

the  other  would  usually  answer  in  words  of  encouragement, 

'  *  God  is  able  to  do  for  us  more  than  we  ask  ;  let  us  continue 
our  meetings  for  prayer."  At  length  their  prayers  were 
heard  ;  there  was  a  sudden  and  remarkable  change  in  the 
preaching  of  their  pastor.  They  met  as  usual  at  the  close  of 
worship  :  "What  is  this?"  asked  one.  "  God  is  the  hearer  of 
prayer,"  answered  the  other. 

The  means  by  which  this  change  was  brought  about  were 
truly  interesting.  Mr.  West,  and  Mr.  Hopkins,  a  neighbour- 
ing minister,  were  in  the  habit  of  frequently  meeting  to  discuss 
their  different  views  of  divine  truth.  At  those  meetings  Mr. 
Hopkins  allowed  Mr.  West  to  state  his  views,  and  to  exhaust 
his  arguments  before  attempting  a  reply  ;  and  then  proceeded, 
in  the  kindest  and  clearest  manner,  to  show  their  opposition  to 
the  word  of  God.  In  one  of  these  interviews,  Mr.  West,  who 
had  been  walking  up  and  down  the  room  in  great  agita- 
tion, said  to  Mr.  Hopkins,  "  Only  reconcile  Divine  sovereignty 
with  man's  agency,  and  I  will  give  up  my  sentiments  to  em- 
brace yours."  "And  cannot  you  reconcile  them,  Mr.  West  ?" 
"No,"  said  he,  "I  cannot."  "Well,"  said  Mr.  Hopkins,  with 
great  mildness  and  sincerity,  "  I  have,  to  your  conviction, 
proved  that  God  is  a  Sovereign  ;  and  you  are  conscious  that 
man  is  a  free  agent.  Now,  therefore,  if  you  cannot  reconcile 
God's  sovereignty  with  man's  agency,  you  must  be  damned." 
The  solemn  appeal  was  not  in  vain.  The  words  rested  on  his 
mind  day  and  night.  He  felt  he  was  a  stranger  to  godliness, 
and  a  blind  leader  of  the  blind.  With  great  fearfulness  he 
continued  to  preach,  but  became  more  practical,  and  preached 
the  truth  as  he  began  to  feel  it.  The  first  sermon  he  preached 
after  this  change  filled  the  hearts  of  those  females  with  holy 
joy.  Dr.  West  was  afterwards  the  author  of  an  excellent 
work  on  the  Atonement  of  Christ. 


44  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


AN  OLD  CLERGYMAN. 


A  VENERABLE  clergyman,  and  doctor  of  divinity,  in  New 
Hampshire,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years,  lodged  at  the  house 
of  a  pious  friend,  where  he  observed  the  mother  teaching  some 
short  prayers  and  hymns  to  her  children.  "  Madam,"  said 
he,  "  your  instructions  may  be  of  far  more  importance  than 
you  are  aware :  my  mother  taught  me  a  little  hymn  when  a 
child,  and  it  is  of  use  to  me  to  this  day.  I  never  close  my 
eyes  to  rest,  without  first  saying, 

'  *Now  I  lay  me  down  to  sleep, 

I  pray  the  Lord  my  soul  to  keep : 

If  I  should  die  before  I  wake, 

I  pray  the  Lord  my  soul  to  take.' " 


THE  BEECHER  FAMILY. 


The  humble,  weary,  and  anxious  toils  of  the  nursery,  some- 
times need  glimpses  of  the  future,  to  impart  to  them  their  true 
dignity  and  value.  Let  any  mother  who  feels  that  she  is  of 
small  value,  and  that  her  duties  and  cares  are  of  little  account, 
ponder  over  such  incidents  as  these : 

On  the  east  of  Long  Island,  in  one  of  the  most  secluded 
spots  in  this  country,  more  than  thirty  years  ago,  a  mother, 
whose  rare  intellectual  and  moral  endowments  were  known  to 
but  few,  made  this  simple  record  : 

"This  morning  I  rose  very  early  to  pray  for  my  children: 


THE    BEEOHER    FAMILY.  45 

and  especially  that  my  sons  may  be  ministers  and  missionaries 
of  Jesus  Christ." 

A  number  of  years  after,  a  friend  who  was  present,  thus 
describes  the  mother's  dying  hour :  "  Owing  to  extreme  weak- 
ness, her  mind  wandered  and  her  conversation  was  broken ; 
but  as  she  entered  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  her  soul 
lighted  up  and  gilded  its  darkness..  She  made  a  feeling  and  most 
appropriate  prayer,  and  told  her  husband  that  her  views  and 
anticipations  had  been  such,  that  she  could  scarcely  sustain 
them  ;  and  that  if  they  had  been  increased,  she  should  have 
been  overwhelmed  ;  that  her  Saviour  had  blessed  her  with  con- 
stant peace,  and  that  through  all  her  sickness,  she  had  never 
prayed  for  life.  She  dedicated  her  five  sons  to  God  as  minis- 
ters and  missionaries  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  said  that  her  greatest 
desire  was,  that  her  children  might  be  trained  up  for  God. 

"  She  spoke  with  joy  of  the  advancement  of  the  kingdom  of 
Christ,  and  of  the  glorious  day  now  ushering  in.  She  at- 
tempted to  speak  to  her  children,  but  was  so  exhausted,  and 
their  cries  and  sobs  were  such,  that  she  could  say  but  little. 
Her  husband  then  made  a  prayer,  in  which  he  gave  her  back 
to  God,  and  dedicated  all  they  held  in  common,  to  him.  She 
then  fell  into  a  sweet  sleep,  from  which  she  awoke  in  heaven." 

The  prayers  of  this  mother  have  been  answered.  All  her 
eight  children  have  been  "  trained  up  for  God."  Her  five  sons 
are  all  "ministers  and  missionaries  of  Jesus  Christ."  And  the 
late  Rev.  George  Beecher  was  the  first  of  her  offspring  whom 
she  welcomed  to  heaven. 


46  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


REV.  JOSEPH  EASTBURN. 


When  a  youth,  after  he  had  entered  upon  his  apprentice- 
ship to  the  trade  at  which  he  so  long  worked,  this  young  man 
fell  into  company  which  would  have  led  him  into  evil  practices. 
Being  removed  from  parental  guardianship,  and  showing  an 
unregenerate  heart,  he  was  disposed  to  follow  the  evil  example 
to  which  he  was  now  exposed.  On  one  occasion  he  had  en- 
gaged with  some  of  his  companions  to  spend  the  Sabbath  in 
sinful  amusement  in  the  country  ;  he  had  already  passed  the 
suburbs  of  the  city,  when  the  distant  sound  of  a  church-bell 
struck  upon  his  ear.  He  was  affected  by  the  sound  ;  he  re- 
membered that  often,  in  company  with  his  parents,  he  had  been 
summoned  by  it  to  the  house  of  God  ;  and  now  what  was  he 
doing  ?  turning  his  back  upon  the  sanctuary,  and  violating  the 
holy  Sabbath.  Entertaining  such  reflections  for  a  moment,  he 
suddenly  stopped,  then  left  his  companions,  and  went  to  the 
house  of  prayer.  It  was  the  turning  point  of  his  life  ;  this 
salutary  remembrance  of  the  manner  in  which  he  had  been 
taught  to  regard  the  Sabbath,  induced  a  change  of  conduct,  and 
he  subsequently  became  one  of  the  most  devoted  servants  of 
Jesus  Christ. 


This  excellent  minister  is  well  known  as  the  founder  of  the 
first  Mariner's  Church  in  Philadelphia,  and  as  an  eminent 
preacher  to  seamen.  At  his  grave,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Green  gave 
an  account  of  the  origin  of  this  peculiar  department  of  labour. 
When  he  began  to  preach  to  seamen,  about  1820,  he  procured 
a  sail-loft,  and  on  the  Sabbath  hung  out  a  flag.  As  the  sailors 
passed  by  they  hailed  him  and  his  friends,  "Ship  ahoy!" 
"  We,"  says  Mr.  Eastburn,  "answered  them.  They  asked  us 
where  we  were  bound  ?"  We  told  them  to  the  port  of  New 
Jerusalem — and  that  they  would  do  well  to  go  in  the  fleet. 


REV.    MR.    C.  47 


'Well,'  said  they,  *  we  will  come  in  and  hear  your  terms.' " 
Such  was  the  commencement  of  a  work  on  which  the  blessin^ 
of  God  has  so  greatly  rested. 


REV.  MR.  C. 


At  a  meeting  of  a  Religious  Tract  Society,  at  Otsego,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  C,  a  clergyman  well  known  to  the  meeting,  arose 
with  deep  emotion,  and  said,  "  My  friends,  I  stand  before  this 
congregation  as  a  monument  of  the  efficacy  of  tracts.  When 
a  young  man,  careless,  unbelieving,  and  impenitent,  as  I  was 
one  day  passing  along  the  road,  I  saw  a  little  piece  of  paper 
half-covered  with  mud ;  it  attracted  my  attention  ;  I  picked  it 
up,  and  found  it  to  be  the  tract  '  Poor  Joseph.'  I  seated  my- 
self on  a  bank  beside  a  small  stream,  and  read  it ;  and  oh  !  I 
shall  never  forget  the  feelings  I  had  as  I  read  over  that  simple 
story.  The  Spirit  of  God  sent  home  its  truths  to  my  heart.  I 
trembled  and  wept  in  view  of  my  sins,  and  I  never  rested  until 
I  reposed  on  the  blood  of  Christ  for  salvation.  If  I  have  ever 
done  any  good  in  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  if  I  may  be  here- 
after made  instrumental  in  leading  lost  and  perishing  souls  to 
the  Redeemer,  it  may  be  all  traced  to  that  tract.  It  has  started 
a  train  of  causes  that  must  operate  through  eternity." 


48  THE   AMERICA^I   CLERGY. 


REV.  PRESIDENT  EDWARDS. 

Few  things  would  tend  more  to  encourage  the  Christian 
education  of  children,  especially  on  the  part  of  pious  mothers, 
than  a  careful  examination  of  the  history  of  eminent  Christian 
ministers.  President  Edwards  was  the  only  brother  of  ten 
sisters,  and  the  son  of  eminently  pious  parents.  He  was  the 
great-great-grandson,  on  his  mother's  side,  of  a  minister  in 
London  in  the  days  of  Queen  Elizabeth  ;  and  the  family  of  his 
mother  for  several  generations  was  equally  singular  for  their 
devotedness  to  God.  To  his  mother,  especially,  is  the  church 
indebted,  under  God,  for  much  of  the  eminence  to  which  this 
extraordinary  man  attained. 


REV.  DR.  DWIGHT. 


Still  more  remarkable  than  the  case  of  President  Ed- 
wards, was  that  of  his  grandson,  President  Dwight.  His  mo- 
ther, the  daughter  of  Edwards,  possessed  uncommon  powers 
of  mind;  and  for  the  extent  and  variety  of  her  knowledge,  she 
has  been  rarely  excelled  in  this  or  any  other  country.  Though 
married  at  an  early  age,  and  a  mother  at  eighteen,  she  found 
time,  without  neglecting  the  ordinary  cares  of  her  family,  to 
devote  herself,  with  the  most  assiduous  attention,  to  the  instruc- 
tion of  this  son,  and  a  numerous  family  of  children,  as  they 
successively  claimed  her  regard.  She  began  to  instruct  him 
almost  as  soon  as  he  was  able  to  speak,  so  that  at  four  years 
of  age  he  could  read  his  Bible  with  ease  and  correctness.    She 


SEVEBAL    YOUKG    CLKEGYMEN.  40 

aimed,  at  a  very  early  period,  to  enlighten  his  conscience,  to 
make  him  afraid  of  sin,  and  lo  know  the  way  of  pardon  only 
through  the  righteousness  of  Christ.  The  impressions  t))us 
made  were  never  effaced.  His  most  valuable  instructor  through 
life  was  his  mother. 


SEVERAL  YOUNG  CLERGYMEN. 

A  FEW  years  since,  some  gentlemen  in  this  country,  who 
were  associated  in  preparing  for  the  Christian  ministry,  felt 
interested  in  ascertaining  what  proportion  of  their  number  had 
pious  mothers.  They  were  greatly  surprised  and  delighted  in 
finding,  that  out  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  students,  more 
than  a  hundred  had  been  blessed  by  a  mother's  prayers,  and 
directed  by  a  mother's  counsels  to  the  Saviour.  Though  some 
of  these  had  broken  away  from  all  the  restraints  of  home,  and, 
like  the  prodigal,  had  wandered  in  sin  and  sorrow,  yet  they 
could  not  forget  the  impressions  of  childhood,  and  each  was 
eventually  brought  to  Jesus,  and  proved  a  mother's  joy  and 
blessing. 


From  the  "  Quarterly  Register,"  published  about  the  same 
time,  we  learn  that  of  the  one  hundred  and  fourteen  students 
whose  names  were  then  on  the  catalogue  of  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Princeton,  one  hundred  and  four,  or  about  eleven- 
twelfths  of  the  whole  number,  had  mothers  "Embracing  Chris- 
tianity ;  eighty -two  had  parents  both  of  whom  were  professors. 
In  twenty-two  instances  the  mother  professed  religion,  and  the 
father  did  not.  Not  a  single  case  where  the  father  was  a 
professor,  and  the  mother  was  not. 


50  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

A  Missionary  from  this  country  says,  "  I  recollect  particu- 
larly, that  once  my  mother  came  and  stood  by  me  as  I  sat  in 
the  door,  and  tenderly  talked  to  me  of  God  and  my  duty  to 
him,  and  her  tears  dropped  upon  my  head.  That  made  me  a 
missionary.'" 


Another  clergyman  has  stated  that  in  his  boyhood  a  colored 
nurse  impressed  it  upon  his  mind,  by  her  simple  remarks,  that 
he  was  to  become  a  minister.  This  impression  never  left  him, 
even  during  his  most  sinful  years,  but  proved  a  leading  instru- 
mental cause  of  turning  his  mind  to  religion,  and  finally  of 
constraining  him  to  enter  the  ministry. 


The  Rev.  Dr.  Scudder  states  that  a  clergyman  told  him  that 
when  he  was  about  five  years  of  age  he  saw  some  pictures  of 
the  Tuscarora  Indians  which  had  been  sent  by  a  lady  who  had 
gone  as  a  missionary  from  his  native  place.  This  circum- 
stance made  an  impression  upon  his  mind  respecting  missions 
which  he  never  lost,  and  he  considered  this  as  one  of  the  mean-s 
which  God  used  for  his  conversion. 


Some  years  since,  a  gentleman  was  travelling  from  Phila- 
delphia to  Boston  with  his  daughter.  At  Providence  a  young 
man,  a  profane  sailor,  entered  the  coach,  whom  the  gentleman 
reproved  for  his  profanity,  and  recommended  him  with  much 
seriousness  to  read  Doddridge's  Rise  and  Progress  of  Religion  ,* 
and  at  Boston  they  parted  from  each  other  with  regret. 

In  the  coach  with  them  travelled  a  young  man,  a  student  at 
one  of  the  colleges,  of  whom,  however,  but  little  notice  was 
taken.  A  few  years  afterwards,  a  gentleman  came  into  the 
store  of  our  traveller  at  Philadelphia,  whom,  however,  he  dio 


SEVERAL    YOUNG    CLERGYME.X.  51 

not  know  till  he  was  informed  that  he  was  the  young  man  who 
travelled  with  him  and  the  sailor  to  Boston.  The  pleasincr  facts 
were  now  elicited,  that,  influenced  by  what  the  gentleman  had 
said  to  the  sailor,  the  present  visitor  had  been  induced  to  read 
"  The  Rise  and  Progress,"  which  had  been  blessed  to  the  conver- 
sion  of  his  soul,  and  that  he  was  now  come  to  reside  in  Philadel- 
phia, to  study  for  the  ministry,  under  the  excellent  Dr.  Staugh- 
ton.  The  young  man  thus  benefited  by  a  casual  conversation 
m  a  stage-coach,  became  a  minister  in  Massachusetts. 


Rev.  Mr.  B ,  of  C ,  related  the  following  interesting 

fact  at  an  anniversary  meeting  of  the  benevolent  societies  of 
Chittenden  co.,  Vermont  : 

*'  Previous  to  entering  the  ministry,  while  on  a  short  journey, 
as  he  stopped  to  water  his  horse,  there  came  along  a  ragged, 
dirty  boy,  to  whom  he  gave  a  tract.  About  six  years  after, 
while  in  the  seminary,  a  young  man  called  at  his  room  and 
asked  him  if  he  recollected  that  tract — holding  one  in  his  hand. 
He  replied  in  the  negative.  The  young  man  then  opened  the 
tract,  and  inquired  if  he  did  not  remember  that  pencil-mark? 
He  observed  that  it  was  his  own  handwriting,  and  replied  that 
he  had  a  faint  recollection  of  giving  such  a  tract  to  a  boy  some 
years  before.  'I  am  that  boy,'  replied  the  young  man.  'I  was 
very  wicked  and  abandoned,  when  I  received  the  tract,  and  my 
parents  were  equally  bad.  They  never  attended  church  or 
2;ave  me  any  religious  instruction.  I  read  the  tract  again  and 
again,  and  thought  it  was  very  wonderful:  my  wickedness 
seemed  so  great  that  I  had  no  rest  till  I  found  it  in  the  Saviour. 
I  am  now  in  my  junior  year,  preparing  for  the  ministry.' ' 


A  drunkard   having  obtained  possession   of  a  good   book, 
pledged  it  for  liquor.     Before  the  vendor  of  ardent  spirits  h.id 


52  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

removed  it  from  the  bar,  a  very  dissipated  young  riian  entered 
the  place,  and  being  too  well  known  to  obtain  credit,  he  was 
constrained  to  lay  down  three  cents  for  a  glass  of  rum,  before 
he  could  obtain  it.  This  troubled  him,  for  it  was  the  last  three 
cents  he  had,  and  he  dreaded  being  unable  to  get  his  usual 
dram  in  the  morning.  While  these  thoughts  perplexed  him,  he 
saw  the  book,  and  judging  rightly  how  it  came  there,  he  sup- 
posed that,  could  he  purloin  it,  his  difficulty  would  be  removed, 
for  he  could  in  like  manner  pledge  it  at  some  other  bar.  He 
accomplished  the  theft  unobserved,  and,  much  pleased  with  his 
success,  went  home.  That  he  might  avoid  being  suspected 
when  offering  the  book,  he  opened  it  to  see  what  it  was  ;  the 
first  words  he  saw  were  these  :  "  There  is  nothing  covered  that 
shall  not  be  revealed."  In  a  moment  this  solemn  truth  was  im- 
pressed upon  his  conscience ;  and  his  course  of  life,  his  deeds 
of  darkness,  his  choice  of  wicked  associates,  and  his  future 
prospects,  forced  themselves  upon  his  attention.  He  lay  down, 
but  could  not  sleep  :  and  after  spending  a  restless  night,  he 
arose  to  seek,  not  x)\q  fire-water  to  which  he  was  accustomed, 
but  those  streams  that  make  glad  the  city  of  God.  An  intole- 
rable burden  oppressed  him,  and  in  bitter  anguish  of  spirit  he 
went  to  some  of  the  servants  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  asked  for 
their  counsel  and  their  prayers.  In  this  state  of  mind  he  con- 
tinued for  a  season,  but  at  length  the  Lord  heard  his  cry,  and 
delivered  him  from  the  horrible  pit,  and  set  his  feet  upon  a 
rock,  and  put  a  new  song  hito  his  mouth,  and  established  his 
goings.     That  man  is  now  a  minister  of  the  Gospel 


REV.    MK.    JAPHET.  53 


REV.  MR.  JAPHET. 

Dr.  Cotton  Mather  has  related  a  very  pleasing  incident 
which  occurred  in  the  seventeenth  century,  in  connection  with 
Mr.  Mayhew. 

It  appears  that  soon  after  he  began  to  preach  in  Martha's 
Vineyard,  the  wife  of  Pammehannit,  a  leading  man  among  the 
Indians,  became  deeply  impressed  with  the  gospel.  In  the  con- 
fession she  made  before  her'  admission  into  the  church,  she 
staled  that  long  before  she  heard  the  gospel,  she  lost  five  child- 
ren in  succession,  while  very  young,  and  that  when  her  sixth 
was  born,  who  was  a  son,  agitated  with  fear  lest  she  should 
lose  him  also,  she  took  him  in  her  arms,  and  walked  into  the 
fields.  While  there  she  mused  on  the  insufficiency  of  all  hu- 
man help,  and  it  was  suggested  to  her  mind  that  there  was  an 
Almighty  God  who  ought  to  be  prayed  to, — that  He  had  cre- 
ated all  things — and  that  He  who  had  given  life  to  all  was  able 
to  preserve  the  life  of  her  child.  With  these  feelings  she  cried 
to  God  for  the  life  of  her  child,  and  the  child  lived.  As  soon 
as  this  poor  woman  heard  the  gospel,  it  was  evident  that  her 
mind  was  fully  prepared  to  receive  it.  Her  son  became  an 
eminent  Christian,  and  a  laborious  minister  of  an  Indian  church, 
consisting  of  some  scores  of  regenerated  souls.  He  was  living 
when  Dr.  Mather  wrote  in  1696,  faithfully  and  successfully 
labouring  to  extend  the  Gospel  among  the  Indians  on  the  main 
land.     His  name  was  Japhet. 


54  THB   AMERICAN    CLEBGT. 


REV.  DR.  PATTEN. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Patten,  of  New  York,  stated,  at  a  meeting  of 
the  American  Tract  Society  in  that  city,  that  a  pious  man  of 
colour,  in  the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia,  whom  he  knew  and  often 
conversed  with,  when  he  first  began  to  turn  his  thoughts  to 
the  Christian  ministry,  held  with  him  an  interesting  conversa- 
tion. This  poor  Tom,  for  so  he  was  called,  had  been  convert- 
ed when  a  slave,  had  learned  to  read,  was  called  to  the  dying- 
bed  of  his  master  to  read  the  Bible,  was  emancipated  by  his 
master's  will,  and,  after  having  redeemed  his  wife,  had  re- 
moved to  the  suburbs  of  Philadelphia.  Poor  Tom  said  to  Dr. 
P., "  Massa,  me  hear  you  are  going  to  study  to  be  a  minister  !" 
"Yes."  "Will  you  let  poor  Tom  say  one  thing  to  y6u?" 
"Yes."  "Well,  you  know  the  good  Master  says.  Watch  and 
pray.  Now  you  may  watch  all  the  time,  and  if  you  no  pray, 
the  devil  will  get  in.  You  may  pray  all  the  time,  and  if  you 
no  watch  too,  the  devil  will  get  in.  But  if  you  watch  and 
pray  all  the  time,  the  devil  no  get  in ;  for  it  is  just  like  the 
sword  of  God  put  into  the  hand  of  the  angel  at  the  entering 
of  the  garden — it.  turn  every  way.  If  the  devil  come  before, 
it  turn  there ;  if  the  devil  come  behind,  it  turn  there.  Yes, 
massa,  it  turn  every  way." 


REV.  W.  TENNENT. 


The  history  of  very  few  ministers  has  ever  been  found  to 
present  more  remarkable  events  than  those  connected  with  this 
sxtraordinary  man. 


REV.    W.    TENNENT.  65 

In  early  life  he  was  a  very  diligent  student,  and  made  great 
proficiency  in  the  languages.  Being  very  deeply  impressed 
with  a  sense  of  divine  things,  he  determined  to  follow  the  ex- 
ample of  his  father,  and  to  devote  himself  to  the  ministry.  He 
was  preparing  for  examination  by  the  presbytery,  when  his 
health  failed,  and  he  became  almost  a  skeleton.  He  was  at- 
tended by  a  young  but  eminent  physician,  who  was  attached 
to  him  by  warm  friendship,  but  who  had  to  grieve  over  the 
entire  loss  of  his  health  and  spirits.  One  morning,  while  Mr. 
Tennent  was  conversing  with  his  brother,  in  Latin,  on  the 
state  of  his  soul,  he  fainted,  and  apparently  died,  On  the  fol- 
lowing day,  the  neighbours  were  invited  to  attend  his  funeral. 
In  the  mean  time  his  physician,  who  had  been  in  the  country, 
returned,  and  was  greatly  affected  with  the  news  of  his  death. 
He  could  not  be  persuaded  that  it  had  taken  place.  He  tried 
every  means  to  ascertain  the  existence  of  life,  but  without  effect. 
The  funeral,  by  the  determination  of  the  physician,  was  delayed. 
On  the  third  day  the  people  were  again  invited  to  discharge 
the  last  duties  owing  to  the  dead  ;  still,  however,  the  physician 
was  not  satisfied,  and  implored,  at  length,  for  only  one  quarter 
of  an  hour  more  delay.  At  this  critical  moment,  the  body,  to 
the  great  astonishment  of  all,  opened  its  eyes,  uttered  a  dread- 
ful groan,  and  sunk  again  into  apparent  death.  This,  of  course, 
put  an  end  to  all  thoughts  of  burying  him,  and  every  effort 
was  employed  in  hope  of  speedy  resuscitation ;  in  about  an 
hour  the  eyes  again  opened,  and  in  a  few  hours  he  was  restored 
to  life. 

Still,  however,  for  about  six  weeks  his  recovery  was  doubt- 
ful, and  twelve  months  elapsed  before  he  was  in  good  health. 
After  he  was  able  to  walk  about  the  room,  his  sister,  who  had 
stayed  from  church  on  the  Sunday  afternoon,  was  reading  in  the 
Bible,  when  he  asked  her  what  book  she  had  in  her  hand.  She 
told  him,  and  he  asked,  «  What  is  the  Bible?  I  know  not  v  hat 
vou  mean."    She  was  deeply  affected,  and  with  tears  told  him 


56  THE    AMERICAN    CLEKGY. 

that  he  was  once  well  acquamted  with  it.  On  examination  it 
was  found  that  he  was  totally  ignorant  of  every  transaction  of 
his  former  life.  He  could  not  read  a  word,  nor  had  lie  any 
idea  of  what  it  meant.  He  was  taught  to  read  and  write  after 
the  manner  of  children,  and  began  to  learn  the  Latin  language 
under  the  tuition  of  his  brother.  One  day,  as  he  was  reciting 
a  lesson  in  Cornelius  Nepos,  he  suddenly  started,  placed  his 
hand  on  his  head,  as  if  something  had  hurt  him,  and  said  that 
he  felt  a  sudden  shock,  and  it  seemed  to  him  as  though  he  had 
read  that  book  before.  By  degrees  his  recollection  was 
entirely  restored. 

The  account  he  gave  of  the  solemn  transaction  to  which  we 
have  referred,  was,  in  substance,  that  while  he  was  conversing 
with  his  brother,  he  found  himself  in  a  moment  in  another  state 
of  existence,   conducted   by  a  superior   being  to  an  ineffable 
glory,  an  idea  of  which  it  was  impossible  to  convey.   He  reflected 
on  his  happy  change,  and  saw  an  innumerable  company  of 
happy  beings  surrounding  the  inexpressible  glory,  in  acts  of 
joyous  adoration  and  worship.     He  felt  unutterable  joy,  and 
requested  his  conductor  to  attend  him  to  join  the  happy  throng  ; 
he  was  informed,  however,  that  he  must  return  to  earth.    This 
communication  greatly  pained  him,  and  in  a  moment  he  saw 
his  brother  disputing  with  the  doctor.     He  added,  *'  Such  was 
the  effect  on  my  mind  of  what  I  had  seen  and  heard,  that  if  it 
be  possible  for  a  human  being  to  live  entirely  above  the  world 
and  the  things  of  it,  for  some  time  afterwards  I  was  that  per- 
son.    The  ravishing  sounds  of  the  songs  and  hallelujahs  that 
1  heard,  and  the  very  words  that  were  uttered,  were  not  out  of 
my  ears  when  awake,  for  at  least  three  years.     All  the  king- 
doms of  the  earth  were  in  my  sight  as  nothing  and  vanity  ; 
and  so  great  were  my  ideas  of  heavenly  glory,  that  nothing 
which  did  not  in  some  measure  relate  to  it,  could  command 
my  serious  attention." 

Further  particulars  were  expected  to  have  been  found  among 


KEV.     irf.   IJLYTHE.  57 

Mr.  T.'s  papers  after  his  death,  as  he  was  known  to  have  writ- 
ten them;  but  unhappily  these  papers,  by  the  calamities  of  war, 
and  the  sudden  death  of  his  son,  were  lost. 


REV.  S.  BLYTHE. 


This  worthy  man,  who  emigrated  from  the  east  to  Alabama 
in  a  very  early  period  of  his  history,  entertained  considerable 
doubts  as  to  his  call  to  the  ministry ;  and  arranged  with  his 
wife  that  his  having  preached  should,  for  a  time  at  least,  be 
kept  secret.  Not  many  days  after,  he  met  with  a  pious  old 
lady,  who  had  newly  arrived  in  the  wilderness,  and  who  deeply 
lamented  that  there  was  no  house  of  God,  no  preaching,  no 
preacher,  and  no  one  who  felt  like  herself.  She  was  anxious 
to  find  a  congenial  spirit  with  whom  she  could  hold  in  rcourse. 
After  a  very  little  conversation,  she  looked  anxiously  and 
seriously  m  his  face,  and  said,  "  My  dear  sir,  are  you  not  a 
professor  of  religion?"  He  answered,  with  a  faltering  voice, 
"  Ah !  I  am  a  sort  of  one."  The  good  old  lady  instantly 
asked,  "Are  you  not  a  minister  of  the  gospel  ?"  He  could  con- 
ceal the  fact  no  longer,  but  acknowledged  that  though  he  had 
wished  to  conceal  it,  he  had  been  accustomed  to  preach.  The 
good  woman  was  greatly  delighted,  and  urged  him  to  make  an 
appointment  for  preaching,  which  he  did,  and  in  the  course  of  a 
year  or  two,  established  several  churches. 


58  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY, 


AN  INDIAN  PREACHER. 


HiAcooMES,  the  first  Indian  convert  on  Martha's  Vineyard, 
was  a  remarkable  man.     He  was  an  Indian  of  Great  Harbor, 
now  Edgartown.     The  Indian   sachems   and    others  of  their 
principal    men    looked    upon    him  as  an    ordinary  or   mean 
person,  on  account  of  his  humble  parentage,  slow  speech  and 
uninteresting  countenance — yet   there   was    that  within   him, 
which  afterwards  appeared  of  greater  value  than  the  endow- 
ments of  those  who  looked  upon  him  with  contempt.     Living 
among  the  English,  some  of  them  visited  him  in  his  wigwam, 
and  were  courteously  entertained  by  him ;  and  he  visited  them 
in  return,  evidently  that  he  might  learn  something  that  would 
be  for  his  advantage.     About  the  same  time,  he  went  also  to 
the  English  meeting,  where  the  Rev.  Thomas  Mayhew,  who 
was  then  minister  to  the  few  English  families  in  Edgartown, 
preached.     Mr.  Mayhew  had    not,  as  yet,  made  any  direct 
efforts  for  the  conversion  of  the  Indians,  but  was  revolving  in 
his  mind  some  plans  whereby  to  reach  them.     The  coming  of 
Hiacoomes  to  his  meeting,  the  disposition  he  manifested  to  hear 
and  receive  instruction,  and  the  gravity  of  his  demeanour,  in. 
duced  the  preacher  to  try  what  he  could  do  in  influencing  him 
fo  become  a  Christian.    He  immediately  sought  an  opportunity 
tor  conversation,  and  finding  encouragement  in  his  interview, 
he  invited  the  Indian  inquirer  to  come  to  his  house  every  Sab- 
bath evening,  that  he  might  speak  to  him  of  jeligion.    The  news 
soon  spread   among  the  Indians,  and   the  sachems  and   paw- 
waws  were  much  alarmed,  and  tried  to  discourage  Hiacoomes 
from  holding  communication  with  the  English  and   receiving 
their  instructions,  but  all  to  no  purpose,  as  he  was  strongly 
bent  after  still  higher  attainments  in  the  knowledge  of  God. 
This  was  in  1643,  and  in  two  years  afterwards,  having  in  the 


REV.    CHARLES    BEATTY.  50 

meanwhile  been  prepared  by  Mr.  Mayhew,  he  commenced 
teaching  to  the  Indians  the  things  of  Christianity.  He  was  not 
suffered  to  proceed  without  opposition  from  the  pawwaws, 
sachems  and  other  Indians— but  he  made  this  improvement  of 
the  injustice  done  him.  «  I  had,"  he  remarked,  «  one  hand  for 
injuries  and  another  hand  for  God ;  whilst  I  received  wrong 
with  the  one,  I  laid  the  faster  hold  on  God  with  the  other." 
These  words  should  be  written  in  letters  of  gold. 


REV.  CHARLES  BEATTY. 


Many  of  the  most  eminent  ministers  have  been  introduced 
to  their  work  in  a  very  unexpected  manner.  This  was  the  case 
with  Mr.  Beatty,  an  excellent  Presbyterian  minister  of  the 
last  century.  He  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  where  he  obtained 
a  pretty  accurate  classical  education ;  but  his  circumstances 
being  narrow,  he  emigrated  to  America,  and  employed  several 
of  the  first  years  of  his  life  on  this  side  the  Atlantic  in  the 
business  of  a  pedlar.  In  the  pursuit  of  this  vocation,  he  halted 
one  day  at  the  "  Log  College,"  on  the  Neshaminy,  then  under 
the  care  of  the  Rev.  William  Tennent,  the  elder.  The  pedlar,  to 
Mr.  Tennent's  surprise,  addressed  him  in  correct  Latin,  and 
appeared  to  be  familiar  with  that  language.  After  much  con- 
versation, in  which  Mr.  Beatty  manifested  fervent  piety,  and 
considerable  religious  knowledge,  as  well  as  a  good  education 
in  other  respects,  Mr.  Tennent  said  to  him,  "  You  must  quit 
your  present  employment.  Go  and  sell  the  contents  of  your 
pack,  and  return  immediately,  and  study  with  me.  It  will  be 
a  sin  for  you  to  continue  a  pedlar,  when  you  may  be  so  much 


60  THE    AMERICAi^    CLERGY. 

moro  useful  in  another  profession."  He  accepted  Mr.  Tennent's 
offer,  returned  to  Nesharainy,  completed  his  academical  and 
theological  studies,  and  in  due  time  became  an  eminent  mi- 
nister. He  died  in  Barbadoes,  where  he  had  gone  to  solicit  be- 
nefactions for  the  college  of  New  Jersey. 


REV.  PRESIDENT  DAVIES. 


A  LITTLE  more  than  a  century  ago,  the  Rev.  W.  Robinson 
had  been  preaching  in  North  Carolina,  having  been  sent  there 
by  the  "  New-light"  presbytery  of  New  Brunswick.  He  was 
compelled  by  persecution  to  make  a  precipitate  retreat,  which 
was  so  hasty  that  his  many  warm  friends  had  no  opportunity 
to  contribute  any  thing  as  a  compensation,  or  even  to  defray 
his  expenses.  A  collection  was,  however,  made,  and  sent  after 
him  by  some  trusty  friends.  But  he  peremptorily  refused  to 
receive  a  penny  of  it,  saying  he  knew  what  his  enemies  would 
say  if  he  should  receive  any  part  of  it,  and  he  was  resolved  they 
should  have  no  occasion  to  speak  ill  of  him  or  of  his  Master's 
cause.  He  at  length  consented  to  receive  it,  saying  he  knew 
a  very  pious  and  promising  young  man,  who  was  in  very  in- 
digent circumstances,  and  had  been  for  some  years  prosecuting 
his  studies  for  the  ministry  ;  he  would,  with  their  leave,  expend 
it  upon  him,  with  the  promise  that  if  he  should  enter  the  minis- 
try, he  should  come  and  preach  to  them.  To  this  they  con> 
sented.  Samuel  Davies,  then  studying  under  the  care  of  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Blair,  at  Fogg's  Manor,  Pennsylvania,  was  this 
youth ;  and  by  his  coming  and  labouring  among  them  the  pledge 
was  redeemed. 


REV.    DR.    RODGERS.  6] 

One  of  the  confidential  elders  of  this  extraordinary  preaclier 
once  said  to  him: — "  Mr.  Davies,  how  is  it,  that  you,  who  are 
so  well-informed  upon  all  theological  subjects,  and  can  express 
yourself  with  so  much  ease  and  readiness,  should  think  it  ne- 
cessary to  prepare  and  write  your  sermons  with  so  much  care, 
and  take  your  notes  into  the  pulpit,  and  make  such  constant 
use  of  them?  Why  do  you  not,  like  many  other  preachers, 
oftener  preach  extempore?"  Mr.  Davies  replied,  "  I  always 
thought  it  to  be  a  most  awful  thing  to  go  into  the  pulpit,  and 
there  speak  nonsense  in  the  name  of  God.  Besides,  when  I 
have  an  opportunity  of  preparing,  and  neglect  to  do  so,  1  am 
afraid  to  look  up  to  God  for  assistance,  for  that  would  be  to 
ask  him  to  countenance  my  negligence.  But  when  I  am  evi- 
dently called  upon  to  preach,  and  have  had  no  opportunity  to 
make  preparation,  I  am  not  afraid  to  try  to  preach  extempore, 
and  I  can  with  confidence  look  up  to  God  for  assistance." 


REV.  DR.  RODGERS. 


There  is  something  in  the  following  anecdote  equally  adapted 
to  interest  the  Christian  and  to  excite  a  spirit  of  inquiry  in  the 
mind  of  the  philosopher. 

In  the  early  life  of  Dr.  Rodgers,  he  was  appointed  by  his 
presbytery  to  visit  three  congregations  in  Virginia,  in  com- 
pany with  the  Rev.,  afterwards  President  Davies.  On  their 
way  a  remarkable  circumstance  occurred.  Mr.  Rodgers,  from 
his  earliest  years,  had  been  unusually  fearful  of  lightning  and 
thunder.  So  great,  indeed,  were  his  agitation  and  suffering 
during  thunder-storms,  that  the  prospect  of  one  made  him  un- 
happy.    He  had   taken  much  pains  to  get  the  better  of  this 

6 


62  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

weakness ;  but,  to  use  his  own  language,  "  neither  reason,  phi- 
losophy, nor  religion  availed  any  thing;"  and  it  was  the  more 
distressing,  because  both  he  and  his  friends  thought  it  might 
seriously  interfere  with  his  ministerial  usefulness.  But  in  the 
course  of  the  journey  of  which  we  are  now  speaking,  he  was 
entirely  delivered  from  this  infirmity,  and  by  means  the  most 
unlikely  to  be  imagined  to  produce  such  a  happy  effect. 

While  he  and  Mr.  Davies  were  riding  together  in  Virgmia, 
one  afternoon.,'  they  were  overtaken  by  one  of  the  most  tremen- 
dous thunder-storms  ever  known  in  that  part  of  the  country. 
They  were  in  the  midst  of  an  extensive  forest,  and  several  miles 
distant  from  any  house  which  offered  even  tolerable  shelter, 
either  to  them  or  their  horses.  The  storm  came  up  with  great 
rapidity ;  the  lightning  and  thunder  were  violent  beyond  all  de- 
scription; and  the  whole  scene  such  as  might  be  supposed  to 
appal  the  stoutest  heart.  Their  horses,  terrified  and  trembling, 
refused  to  proceed.  They  were  obliged  to  alight;  and,  standing 
by  their  beasts,  expected  every  moment  to  be  precipitated  into 
eternity  by  the  resistless  element.  Providentially,  however, 
they  escaped  unhurt:  and  the  consequence  was  as  wonderful 
as  the  preservation  was  happy.  From  that  hour  Mr.  Rodgers 
v/as  entirely  delivered  from  the  infirmity  which  had  hitherto 
given  him  so  much  distress. 


A  member  of  the  Doctor's  congregation  in  New  York  once 
complained  to  him  that  his  prayers  were  too  methodical,  and 
that  they  appeared  to  be  studied.  "  You  are  right,  sir,"  said 
the  doctor,  "  my  prayers  are  studied.  Would  you  have  me 
offer  to  God  that  which  costs  me  nothing?" 


REV.    DR.    UARRlii.  63 


REV.  DR.  HARRIS. 

The  Rev.  N.  Hall,  in  his  funeral  sermon  for  this  valued 
minister,  relates  an  incident  which  occurred  i  i  the  first  year  in 
College,  interesting  in  itself,  and  which  exercised  a  great  influence 
on  his  character  in  the  whole  of  his  after  life. 

His  mother,  having  learned,  by  a  visit  to  his  room,  his  great 
need  of  comfortable  clothing,  and  unable  herself  to  help  him, 
save  by  her  hands,  had  proposed  to  him  to  raise  in  some  way 
the  sum  of  money,  a  very  small  one,  which  would  enable  her 
to  purchase  for  him  what  he  needed.  After  many  fruitless 
attempts  to  do  this,  he  set  off  to  meet  his  mother,  as  by  pre- 
vious arrangement,  in  Boston  ;  having  nothing  in  possession  or 
prospect,  but  a  few  cents,  which  he  had  transferred  from  his 
trunk  to  his  pocket  as  he  left  his  room;  and  these — so  strong 
were  his  benevolent  sympathies — he  gave  to  a  poor  crippled 
soldier  that  he  met  on  his  way,  and  who,  faint  and  famishing, 
solicited  his  aid.  As  he  went  on,  deeply  depressed  at  his  des- 
titute condition,  and  in  despair  at  his  seeming  fate,  he  perceived 
something  adhering  to  the  end  of  his  rude  staff  he  had  cut  on 
his  way  ;  and  found  it  to  be  a  gold  ring,  into  which  his  staff 
had  stuck  itself  as  he  walked,  and  having  engraved  upon  it  the 
words,  "God  speed  thee,  friend."  Its  pecuniary  worth  proved 
sufficient  for  his  present  exigency,  and  its  moral  value  was  in- 
calculable, giving  him  a  cheerful  faith  and  confidence  in  God. 
The  whole  incident,  acting  upon  his  sensitive  nature,  subdued 
and  overwhelmed  him,  and  gave  to  his  character  a  stronger 
religious  determination.  "That  motto,"  said  he  in  after  life, 
"  has  ever  been  the  support  of  my  faith  when  it  was  feeble, 
and  the  strength  of  my  heart  when  it  was  faint." 


t)4  THE    AMERICAN    CLEKGY. 


REV.  DR.  KING. 


In  the  month  of  December,  1807,  Mr.  Maynardwas  teaching 
school  in  Plainfield,  Mass.  One  cold,  blustering  morning,  on 
entering  his  school-room,  he  observed  a  lad  whom  he  had  not 
seen  before,  sitting  on  one  of  the  benches.  He  was  fifteen 
years  old ;  his  parents  lived  seven  miles  distant ;  he  wanted  an 
education  j  and  had  come  from  home  on  foot  that  morning,  to 
see  if  Mr.  M.  could  help  him  to  contrive  how  to  obtain  it. 

Mr.  M.  asked  him  if  he  was  acquainted  with  any  one  in  that 
place. 

"  No." 

"  Can  your  parents  help  you  towards  obtaining  an  education  ?" 

«  No." 

"  Have  you  any  friends  that  can  give  you  assistance  ?" 

"  No." 

"  Well,  how  do  you  expect  to  obtain  an  education  ?" 

"  I  don't  know,  but  I  thought  I  would  come  and  see  you." 

Mr.  M.  told  him  to  stay  that  day,  and  he  would  see 
what  could  be  done.  He  discovered  that  the  boy  was  possessed 
of  good  sense,  but  no  uncommon  brilliancy,  and  he  was  parti- 
cularly struck  with  the  cool  and  resolute  manner  in  which  he 
undertook  to  conquer  difficulties  which  would  have  intimidated 
weaker  minds.  In  the  course  of  the  day,  Mr.  M.  made  pro- 
vision for  having  him  boarded  through  the  winter  in  the  family 
with  himself,  the  lad  paying  for  his  board  by  his  services  out 
of  school.  He  gave  himself  diligently  to  study,  in  which  he 
made  good,  but  not  rapid  proficiency,  improving  every  oppor- 
tunity of  reading  and  conversation  for  acquiring  knowledge, 
and  thus  spent  the  winter. 

When  Mr.  M.  left  the  place  in  the  spring,  he  engaged  a 
minister,  who  resided  about  four  miles  from  the  boy's  father,  to 
hear  his  recitations  ;  and  the  boy  accordingly  boarded  at  home 


REV      DK.    KIN^    AM)    KKV.    IlExNRY    LYMAN.  65 

anil  pursued  his  studies.  It  is  unnecessary  to  pursue  the  nar- 
rative  further.  Mr.  M.  has  never  seen  the  lad  since ;  but  this 
was  the  early  history  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jonas  King,  whose  exer- 
tions  in  the  cause  of  oriental  learning,  and  in  alleviating  the 
miseries  of  Greece,  have  endeared  him  alike  to  the  scholar 
and  the  philanthropist,  and  shed  a  bright  ray  of  glory  on  his 
native  country. 


T?EV.  DR.  KING,  AND  REV.  HENRY  LYMAN. 

We  propose  to  sketch  another  incident,  or  series  of  incidents, 
connected  with  Mr.  King.  They  were  communicated  by  an 
ardent  friend  of  the  missionary  cause,  and  who  has  contri- 
buted largely  of  his  abundant  means  for  its  advancement.  It 
will  be  remembered  that  Mr.  King,  after  his  election  to  a  pro- 
fessorship in  one  of  the  eastern  colleges,  was  sent  to  Europe 
on  business  connected  with  the  institution.  While  there,  it  was 
deemed  important  by  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners, 
that  he  should  proceed  as  a  missionary,  under  their  direction, 
to  Palestine.  The  college,  after  some  solicitation,  was  prevail-| 
ed  upon  to  consent  to  the  arrangement,  and  a  letter  was  writ- 
ten to  Mr.  King,  informing  him  of  the  wishes  of  the  Board  of 
Commissioners.  This  letter  reached  Mr.  King  at  Paris,  and 
uas  received  for  him  by  the  gentleman  to  whom  we  have 
alluded,  who  was  then  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in 
that  city.  This  gentleman  received  a  letter  at  the  same  time, 
desiring  him  to  unite  with  the  Board  in  their  endeavours  to  pro- 
cure the  valuable  services  of  Mr.  King,  in  that  most  interest- 
ing and  important  field  of  labour,  Palestine.  When  Mr.  Kina; 
came  into  the  counting  room,  the  letter  was  handed  to  imn 


4 


66  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

He  immediately  retired  with  it  to  a  small  private  adjoining 
room.  He  did  not  return  for  about  three  hours.  When  he 
came  out,  reachino;  his  hand,  he  inquired,  ''What  shall  I  do  ?" 
"Go."  ''Behold,"  says  he,  "I  go  bound  in  the  spirit  to  Jeru- 
salem, not  knowing  the  things  that  shall  befal  me  there." 
The  gentleman  immediately  wrote  to  several  friends  of  the 
missionary  cause  in  Europe,  saying,  "  Mr.  King  has  consent- 
ed to  go  to  Palestine.  I  will  give  a  certain  sum  for  so  many 
years :  will  you  do  the  same  ?"  Affirmative  answers  were 
returned  in  every  case.    _ 

Betbre  he  left  for  Jerusalem,  Mr.  King  requested  his  friend, 
on  his  return  to  America,  to  go  and  see  his  aged  parents,  and 
administer  to  them  such  consolation  as  their  condition  should 
require.  This  he  promised ;  and  this  promise  he  kept,  when, 
a  few  years  after,  he  found  himself  at  Northampton,  in  Massa- 
chusetts, and  within  a  few  miles  of  their  residence.  Knowing 
that  thev  were  still  in  indiijent  circumstances,  he  determined 
not  to  visit  them  without  an  open  hand.  It  was  in  the  winter 
season  :  a  sleigh  was  procured  and  laden  with  provisions,  and, 
accompanied  by  a  young  man,  the  son  of  the  host  from  whom 
he  had  procured  the  sleigh,  he  started  on  his  long-promised 
errand  of  mercy.  On  arriving  at  the  house,  he  found  it  as  he 
expected,  small  and  decayed,  the  inmates  of  which  might  well 
ay: 

"No  beggar  soils  the  knocker  of  my  door: 
The  child  of  rags  by  instinct  shuns  the  poor." 


When  that  door  was  opened  by  the  aged  mother,  in  every 
lineament  was  seen  the  features  of  Jonas  King.  There  was 
no  mistaking  the  parentage.  "  I  have  come,"  said  the  am- 
bassador, for  such  he  may  well  be  termed,  "from  your  son 
at  Jerusalem."  The  venerable  father  rose  up  to  receive  him, 
and,  after  a  few  hurried  questions,  said,  "Let  us  pray  ;"  and 
bending  down,  he  returned  fervent  thanks  for  his  social  privi- 
leges, and  especially  for  the  opportunity  offcre'd  him  of  heariii;:; 


REV.    DB.    KING,  AND    REV.    HENRY    LYMAN.  G7 

from  his  long-absent  and  beloved  son.     The  provisions  were 
brought  in.     "These,"  said  the  ambassador,  "are  sent  by  your 
son  ;  at  least  I  present  them  in  his  name."     "What!"  said  the 
aged  and  simple-hearted  mother,  "did   these  things  come   all 
the  way  from  Jerusalem?"     As  the  coffee,  and  tea,  and  sugar, 
were  successively  placed  before  them,  the  good  old  man  said, 
"Of  a  truth  God  has  this  day  abundantly  blessed  us  :  again  let 
<iis  return  thanks;"  and  he  bowed,  the  knee  and  lifted  up  his     • 
voice,  and  gave  thanks  to  God  for  his  goodness  to  them.     The 
table  was  soon  spread,  and  the  aged  pair,  and  their  son's  friend 
and  their  benefactor,  were  gathered  around  it ;  the  lad  who 
had  driven  the  horses  was  among  the  number.     A  blessing  was 
invoked,  and  the  meal  partaken  of  with  grateful  hearts.     Wlien 
it  was  over,  the  day  was  drawing  to  a  close,  and  the  gentle- 
man signified  his  intention  of  returning.     Before  he  departed, 
the  old  family  Bible  was  brought  forward,  and  a  chapter  read. 
The  eves  of  the  pious  old  man  were  dimmed  with  age,  and  he 
regretted  their  decay,  especially  as  it  prevented  his  reading  the 
sacred  word.    Again  the  old  man  said,  "Let  us  unite  in  prayer," 
and  again  he  bowed  himself,  and  invoked  the  choicest  blessings 
upon  his  son  and  upon  his  friend.     With  a  heart  filled  with  love 
and  admiration  of  the  piety  of  these  aged  saints,  and  deposit- 
ing secretly  between  the  leaves  of  the  old  Bible  a  twenty-dol- 
lar bill,  that  friend  departed,  expecting  in  all  probability  nevcr| 
to  see  their  faces  again  on  earth.     A  few  years  afterwards,  the 
same  gentleman  was  attending  a  Commencement  in  one  of  the 
New  England  colleges.     After  the  close  of  the  exercises,  a 
young  gentleman   approached   him,  and,   addressing  him   by 
name'I  said,  "You  probably  do  not  recollect  me,  but  I  am  th.> 
person  who  accompanied  you  on  your  visit  to  the  parents  of 
.Tonas  King ;  I  date  my  first  serious  religious  impressions  from 
that  day.""   That  young  man  was  the  Rev.  Henry  Lyman,  who 
was  afterwards  missionary  to  India,  and  whose  prospects  of 
usefulness,  and  whose  life,  were  terminated  by  the  melancholy 


1^8 


THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


death  of  himself  and  associate,  by  the  cannibals  of  the  island 
of  Borneo.  The  good  old  man  has  gone  to  his  rest,  and  by 
his  will,  left  to  the  friend  of  his  son,  the  old  family  Bible. 


A  CLERGYMAN. 


Some  years  ago,  a  clergyman,  who  was  a  widower,  married 
the  widow  of  a  deceased  minister  of  another  denomination. 
She  was  a  woman  highly  esteemed  for  her  correct  views  of 
Divine  truth,  and  for  sincere  and  consistent  piety.  She  had 
not  long  accompanied  her  new  companion  in  his  public  and 
social  worship,  before  she  became  pensive  and  dejected.  This 
awakened  the  solicitude  of  her  companion,  who  insisted  on 
knowing  the  cause.  At  length,  with  trembling  hesitancy,  she 
observed,  "  Sir,  your  preaching  would  starve  all  the  Christians 
in  the  world."  "  Starve  all  the  Christians  in  the  world !" 
said  the  astonished  preacher  ;  "why,  do  I  not  speak  the  truth  ?" 
"Yes,"  replied  his  wife,  "and  so  you  would  were  you  to  stand 
in  the  desk  all  day,  and  say  my  name  is  Mary.  But,  sir,  there 
^  something  besides  the  letter  in  the  truth  of  the  gospel."  The 
result  was,  a  very  important  change  in  the  ministerial  efforts 
of  this  clergyman ;  after  which  his  partner  sat  and  heard  him 
with  great  delight. 


AN    INDIAN    MISSIONARY.  69 

AN  INDIAN  MISSIONARY. 

Every  Christian  must  review  with  deep  interest  the  history 
of  the  rise  and  progress  of  religion  among  our  Indians.  The 
following  narrative  was  given  by  a  gentleman  of  the  United 
States,  when  on  a  visit  to  England,  and  was  published  in  that 
country  in  1838  : — 

It  was  in  the  autumn  of  1832,  in  the  regions  of  the  far- west, 
when  the  shadows  of  the  forest  were  deepening  in  the  twilight 
over  the  waters  of  the  Columbian  river,  that  a  traveller,  whom 
commerce  had  led  to  seek  out  the  tribe  of  Indians  dwellins 
upon  its  borders,  (commonly  called  "the  Flat-headed  Indians,") 
appeared  at  the  entrance  of  a  wigwam,  asking  for  food  and 
water,  in  broken  accents,  but  in  their  own  language.  When 
rested  and  refreshed,  its  owner  asked  his  errand,  which  proved 
to  be  one  of  barter,  and  made  him  very  welcome  to  these  child- 
ren of  the  wilderness. 

The  savage  who  received  him  was  tall,  erect,  and  finely 
formed,  with  an  expression  of  intelligence  about  his  eyes  and 
forehead  which  might  have  bespoken  the  power  of  civilization. 
"  You  are  weary,"  he  said  to  the  stranger,  "  and  it  was  well 
that  you  reached  our  shelter  before  the  voice  of  the  great 
Eagle  was  abroad  upon  the  mountains." 

"What  do  you  mean  ?"  asked  his  guest,  at  the  same  moment 
looking  forth  at  the  clouded  sky  ; — "  and  what  is  the  voice  of 
the  great  Eagle  ?" 

"  Hear  it  now,"  replied  the  savage,  as  the  first  peal  of  thun- 
der rolled,  and  echoed  round  the  hills.  "  The  great  Spirit  is 
riding  down  the  water-fall!  Do  you  not  hear  him  in  the 
wind  ?  I  am  afraid  of  him,  and  so  surely  you  must  be.  ,  Let 
us  speak  against  his  harm." 

"I  fear  nothing,"  replied  the  hardy  wanderer.  "  But  is  this 
spirit  a  good  or  a  bad  spirit?— and  have  you  more  spirits  than 
one  in  your  country  ?" 


70  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

"We  have  a  good  Spirit,"  was  the  answer,  "  but  we  never 
speak  to  him — he  will  do  us  no  evil :  and  we  have  a  bad 
spirit,  who  is  the  great  eagle  I  told  you  of;  and  we  pray  to 
him,  that  he  may  not  work  us  harm.  What  spirits  have  you 
in  your  country  ?" 

"  I  come,"  said  the  stranger,  "from  the  Ohio ;  and  the  men 
in  those  parts  have  a  book  which  teaches  them  a  new  way  to 
heaven  ;  or,  as  you  would  call  it,  to  the  sky.  They  say  that 
they  shall  live  again  after  they  die,  and  live  up  there — that  is, 
if  they  please  their  great  Spirit." 

"  What  is  a  book  ? — 1  should  like  to  see  it,"  said  the  Indian. 
"And  about  living  after  death,  I  want  to  know.  How  far  is 
it  to  the  Ohio?" 

"  It  is  three  thousand  miles,"  replied  the  traveller,  "and  all 
through  the  desert.  You  never  will  reach  the  Ohio; — but  all 
I  have  said  to  you  is  true." 

The  Indian  turned  into  his  hut  to  sleep ;  but  he  could  not 
sleep  at  all, — and  he  walked  out  again  into  the  clear  still  moon- 
light, when  the  storm  was  hushed,  to  think  about  the  book 
which  could  teach  the  way  into  the  sky.  There  were  two  men 
in  his  tribe  to  whom  he  repeated,  the  next  morning,  what  the 
traveller  had  said ;  and  he  asked  them  if  they  would  go  with 
him  to  fetch  such  a  book  from  beyond  the  mountains.  They 
agreed, — and  after  a  seasor;  the  traveller  went  on  his  way,  and 
they  too  took  their  journey  in  an  opposite  direction.  They 
lived  by  the  chase,  endured  innumerable  perils,  and  were  six 
months  on  their  road  ; — but  at  last  arrived  at  their  destination, 
and  entreated  to  see  the  book  of  which  they  had  heard,  and  to 
be  taught  that  which  they  did  not  know. 

Their  history  excited  great  interest — they  were  welcomed  and 
instructed  ;  but  ere  many  months  had  passed,  the  savage  who 
had  first  heard  the  good  news  from  the  traveller, — worn  out 
with  the  fatigue  and  hardships  of  his  journey — fell  ill  and  died  : 
not,  however,  before  he  had  listened  to  the  glad  tidings  of  saU 


A    YOITNG    MINISTER.  71 

vation  by  Jesus  Christ ;  and  declared  that  he  believed  the  book. 
A  still  deeper  feeling  was  occasioned  by  his  death.  A  mission- 
ary offered  himself  to  return  with  the  two  others  to  their 
homes;  and  did  accompany  them  back  to  the  Columbian 
River.  Accounts  were  received  from  him  of  his  safe  arrival, 
his  joyful  reception  by  the  tribe,  and  of  his  beginning  to  dis. 
tribute  among  them  the  water  of  life. 


SEVERAL  Clergymen. 


Pains  taken  in  the  composition  of  sermons  are  not  labour 
thrown  away.  An  eminent  scholar,  the  president  of  one  of 
our  universities,  re-wrote  the  most  useful  of  his  sermons 
thirteen  or  fourteen  times,  and  laboured,  in  connection  with 
a  literary  friend,  two  whole  days  on  two  sentences.  A  living 
divine,  who  has  been  called  the  prince  of  our  pulpit  orators, 
spent  a  fortnight  on  a  single  discourse,  which  has  already  ac- 
complished more  good  than  four  thousand  sermons  written 
by  another  of  our  pastors,  at  the  rate  of  two  a  week.  On 
the  blank  leaf  of  one  of  Dr.  Griffin's  manuscripts,  it  appear- 
ed that  his  discourse  had  been  preached  ninety  times  !  Thus 
had  it  been  touched  and  retouched,  reviewed  and  rewritten, 
till,  so  far  as  the  author's  power  availed,  it  was  perfected. 


A  YOUNG  MINISTER. 


A  YOUNG  minister,  a  few  years  since,  received  a  call  from 
two  different  societies  at  once,  to  hnrome  their  pastor.     Onr 


72  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

of  them  was  united  and  rich,  and  therefore  able  to  give  him  a 
large  salary ;  the  other  was  poor,  and  so  divided  that  they  had 
driven  away  their  minister.  In  this  condition  he  applied  to 
his  father  for  advice.  An  aged  coloured  servant,  who  over- 
heard what  was  said,  made  this  reply;  "Massa,  go  where 
there  is  the  least  money  and  the  most  devil."  The  minister 
took  the  advice,  united  the  church,  and  converted  many  souls 
to  Christ. 


REV.  MR.  WILLEY. 


The  Rev.  Mr.  Willey,  of  New  Hampshire,  at  a  public  meetmg 
in  Park  Street  church,  Boston,  gave  the  history  of  a  lad  in  a 
retired  part  of  the  country,  to  whom  a  pious  lady,  after  seri- 
ous conversation,  gave  the  "  Saints'  Rest."  He  read  it,  became 
deeply  interested,  and  carried  it  to  the  barn  where  he  was  em- 
ployed, weeping  over  its  pages,  and  over  his  hardness  of  heart, 
and  praying  to  be  saved  from  the  miseries  of  the  lost.  But 
these  impressions  died  away  ;  and  some  years  after,  on  the 
Sabbath,  in  Boston,  he  wandered  into  the  very  church  where 
the  meeting  was  then  assembled,  where,  under  the  appeals  of 
the  venerable  Dr.  Griffin,  all  his  former  solicitude  for  his  un- 
dying soul  was  revived,  and  he  was  led  immediately  to  apply 
to  a  clergyman  of  the  city  for  the  "  Saints'  Rest."  After  con- 
siderable trouble  the  long-sought  volume  was  found  and  read, 
portions  of  it,  time  after  time,  during  the  week.  On  the  Sab- 
bath this  youth  was  seen  in  this  house,  a  weeping  stranger, 
sometimes  in  one  part  of  it  and  sometimes  in  another.  It  was 
in  that  gallery,  referring  to  the  west  gallery,  as  he  has  since 
ventured  to  hope,  he  poured  out  his  soul  unto  God,  and  that 
light  began  to  dawn  upon  him,  which  has  since  been  as  the 


REV.    DR.    GRIFFI.\.  78 

rising  light  of  day.  This  youth  was  the  eldest  in  a  family  of 
ten  children,  all  of  whom,  together  with  both  parents,  luive 
since  been  brought  to  hope  in  the  mercy  of  God,  and  to  unite 
with  his  people  ;  and  of  the  five  sons,  four  are  in  the  Christian 
ministry.  * 


REV.  DR.  GRIFFIN. 


The  late  Rev.  Dr.  E.  D.  Griffin  was  exceedingly  careful  in 
the  preparation  of  his  sermons.  Dr.  Sprague  says  that  he 
was  once  at  his  house,  and  in  view  of  preaching,  went  into  his 
study  to  read  over  his  sermon.  He  called  for  ink  and  sand, 
and  began  to  strike  out,  and  to  pour  on  the  sand.  The  manu- 
script was  already  black  with  erasures  and  insertions,  but  the 
work  went  on,  the  paper  growing  darker  every  moment.  One 
of  the  little  children  coming  up,  and  looking  on  the  blotted  and 
blurred  manuscript,  corrected  and  re-corrected,  said,  "  How  can 
you  read  your  sermon?  It  is  all  scratched  out'/"  He  was 
particular  in  covering  with  ink  every  word  erased,  so  that  it 
could  not  be  read. 

The  remark  of  the  child  led  him  to  speak  of  his  custom ; 
and  said  he,  "  This  I  regard  as  one  chief  excellence  of  my 
preaching,  if  I  have  any."  He  continued,  "  I  have  a  plain 
figure  which  I  use  in  the  study ;  it  will  not  do  for  the  pnblic 
ear;  but  it  serves  to  illustrate  my  point.  If  you  put  swing- 
ling tow  upon  a  hetchel,  you  can  ride  to  Boston  on  it ;  but  if 
you  pull  out  the  tow,"  holding  up  his  fingers  to  reprcsont  th<^ 
process,  "and  let  the  points  stick  up,  they  will  prick:  so,"  added 
he,  "you  may  cover  up  the  truth  with  ornaments  and  words, 
till  the  conscience  cannot  be  reached.     You  mii^f  pull  out  the 


74  THE    AMERICAN    CLEKGY. 

tow — the  points  are  the  truth — pull  out  the  tow,  and  let  the 
points  stick  up."  A  better  illustration,  as  Dr.  Sprague  remarks, 
was  never  given.  If  our  sermons  had  less  "  tow,"  and  more 
naked  "  points,"  they  would  do  more  execution. 


SEVERAL  EMINENT  CLERGYMEN. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Hill,  of  Virginia,  some  time  since,  made  the 
following  statement  at  a  public  meeting  of  a  Tract  Society : — 

I  lost  my  sainted  mother  when  I  was  a  youth,  but  not  before 
the  instructions  which  I  received  from  her  beloved  lips  had 
made  a  deep  impression  upon  my  mind  ;  an  impression  which 
I  carried  with  me  into  a  college,  (Hampden  Sidney,)  where 
there  was  not  then  one  pious  student.  There  I  often  reflected, 
when  surrounded  by  young  men  who  scoffed  at  religion,  upon 
the  instructions  of  my  mother,  and  my  conscience  was  frequent- 
ly sore  distressed.  I  had  no  Bible,  and  dreaded  getting  one, 
lest  it  should  be  found  in  my  possession.  At  last  I  could  stand 
it  no  longer,  and  therefore  requested  a  particular  friend,  a  youth 
whose  parents  lived  near,  and  who  often  went  home,  to  ask 
his  pious  and  excellent  mother  to  send  me  some  religious  books. 
She  sent  me  Alleine's  Alarm,  an  old  black  book,  which  looked 
as  if  it  might  have  been  handled  by  successive  generations  for 
one  hundred  years.  When  I  got  it,  I  locked  my  room  and  lay 
on  my  bed  reading  it,  when  a  student  knocked  at  my  door; 
and  although  I  gave  him  no  answer,  dreading  to  be  found  read- 
ing such  a  book,  he  continued  to  knock  and  beat  the  door,  until 
I  had  to  open  it.  He  came  in,  and  seeing  the  book  lying  on 
the  bed,  he  seized  it,  and  examining  its  title,  he  said, — "Why, 
Hill,  do  vou  read  such  books?"     T  hesitated,  ]>ut  God  ennbled 


SEVERAL  EMINENT  CLERGYMEN.  75 

me  to  be  decided,  and  tell  him  boldly,  but  with  much  emotion, 
"  Yes,  I  do."  The  young  man  replied  with  deep  agitation, 
"Oh,  Hill,  you  may  obtain  religion,  but  /never  can.  I  came 
here  a  professor  of  religion ;  but  through  fear,  I  dissembled  it, 
and  have  been  carried  along  with  the  wicked,  until  I  fear  that 
there  is  no  hope  for  me."  He  told  me  that  there  were  two 
others,  who  he  believed  were  somewhat  serious.  We  agreed 
to  take  up  the  subject  of  religion  in  earnest,  and  seek  it  toge- 
ther. We  invited  the  other  two,  and  held  a  prayer-meeting  in 
my  room  on  the  next  Saturday  afternoon.  And  Oh,  what  a 
prayer-meeting !  We  tried  to  pray,  but  such  prayer  I  never 
heard  the  like  of.  We  knew  not  how  to  pray,  but  tried  to  do 
it.  It  was  the  first  prayer- meeting  that  I  ever  heard  of.  We 
tried  to  sing,  but  it  was  in  a  suppressed  manner,  for  we  feared 
the  other  students.  But  they  found  it  out,  and  gathered  around 
the  door,  and  made  such  a  noise,  that  some  of  the  officers  had 
to  disperse  them.  And  so  serious  was  the  disturbance,  that 
the  President,  the  late  excellent  Rev.  Dr.  John  B.  Smith,  had 
to  investigate  the  matter  at  prayers  that  evening,  in  the  prayers' 
hall.  When  he  demanded  the  reason  of  the  riot,  a  ringleader 
in  wickedness  got  up  and  stated,  that  it  was  occasioned  by 
three  or  four  of  the  boys  holding  prayer-xneeVmg,  and  they 
were  determined  to  have  no  such  doings  there.  The  good 
President  heard  the  statement  with  deep  emotion,  and  looking 
at  the  youths  charged  with  the  sin  of  praying,  with  tears  in  his 
eyes,  he  said,  "Oh,  is  there  such  a  state  of  things  in  this  col- 
lege? Then  God  has  come  near  to  us.  My  dear  young 
friends,  you  shall  be  protected.  You  shall  hold  your  next 
meeting  in  my  parlour,  and  I  will  be  one  of  your  number." 
Sure  enough,  we  had  our  next  meeting  in  his  parlour,  and  half 
the  college  was  there ;  and  there  began  the  glorious  revival  of 
religion,  which  pervaded  the  college  and  spread  into  the  coun- 
try around.  Many  of  those  students  became  ministers  of  the 
gospel.     The  youth  who  had  brought  me  Alleine's  Alarm  from 


76  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

his  mother  was  my  friend,  the  Rev.  C.  Still,  preaching  in  this 
State.  And  he  who  interrupted  me  in  reading  the  work,  my 
venerable  and  worthy  friend,  the  Rev.  Dr.  H ,  is  now  pre- 
sident of  a  college  in  the  West. 


REV.  E.  T.  TAYLOR. 


A  PIOUS  English  widow,  who  resided  among  ignorant  and 
vicious  neighbors  in  the  suburbs  of  Boston,  Mass.,  determined 
to  do  what  she  could  for  their  spiritual  benefit.  She  opened 
her  little  front  room  for  weekly  prayer-meetings,  and  engaged 
some  pious  Methodists  to  aid  in  conducting  them. 

Among  others  who  attended  was  a  young  sailor  of  intelligent 
and  prepossessing  countenance.  A  slight  acquaintance  showed 
him  to  be  very  ignorant  of  even  the  rudiments  of  education  ; 
but  he  had  evidently  such  superior  talents  that  the  widow  became 
much  interested  in  his  spiritual  welfare,  and  prayed  much  that 
God  would  instruct  and  convert  him,  and  make  him  useful. 

But  in  the  midst  of  her  anticipations,  he  was  suddenly  sum- 
moned away  to  sea.  He  had  been  out  but  a  short  time  when 
the  vessel  was  seized  by  a  British  privateer  and  carried  into 
Halifax,  N.  S.,  where  the  crew  suffered  by  a  long  and  wretch- 
ed imprisonment. 

A  year  had  passed  away,  during  which  the  good  woman  had 
heard  nothing  of  the  young  sailor.  Still  she  remembered  and 
prayed  for  him  with  the  solicitude  of  a  mother.  About  this 
time  she  also  was  called  to  Halifax  on  business.  While  there, 
her  habitual  disposition  to  be  useful,  led  her  with  a  few  friends 
to  visit  the  prison  with  Bibles  and  tracts.  In  one  apartme  t 
were  the  American  prisoners.     As  she  approached  the  grat  ' 


REV.    E.    T.    TAYLOR.  77 

door,  a  voice  shouted  her  name,  calling  her  mother,  and  a  youth 
appeared  and  leaped  for  joy  at  the  grate.  It  was  the  lost  sailor 
boy  !  They  wept  and  conversed  like  mother  and  son,  and 
when  she  left  she  gave  him  a  Bible — his  future  guide  and 
comfort. 

During  her  stay  at  Halifax,  she  constantly  visited  the  prison, 
supplying  the  youth  with  tracts,  religious  books,  and  clothing, 
and  endeavouring  by  her  conversation  to  secure  the  religious 
impression  made  on  his  mind  at  the  prayer-meetings  in  Boston. 
After  many  months  she  removed  to  a  distant  part  of  the  pro- 
vince ;  and  for  years  she  heard  nothing  more  of  the  young 
sailor. 

We  pass  over  a  period  of  many  years,  and  introduce  the 
reader  to  Father  Taylor,  the  distinguished  mariners'  preacher 
in  the  city  of  Boston.  In  a  spacious  and  substantial  chapel, 
crowded  about  by  the  worst  habitations  in  the  city,  this  distin- 
guished man  delivered,  every  Sabbath,  discourses  as  extraordi- 
nary, perhaps,  as  are  to  be  found  in  the  Christian  world.  In 
the  centre  column  of  seats,  guarded  sacredly  against  all  other 
intrusion,  sat  a  dense  mass  of  mariners — a  strange  medley  of 
white,  black,  and  olive,  Protestant,  Catholic,  and  Pagan.  On 
the  other  seats  in  the  galleries,  the  aisles,  the  altar,  and  on  the 
pulpit  stairs,  were  crowded,  week  after  week,  and  year  after 
year — the  families  of  sailors,  and  the  poor  who  had  no  other 
temple — the  elite  of  the  city — the  learned  professor — the  stu- 
dent— the  popular  writer — the  actor — groups  of  clergymen, 
and  the  votaries  of  gayety  and  fashion,  listening  with  throb- 
bing hearts  and  wet  eyes,  to  a  man  whose  only  school  had 
been  the  forecastle,  whose  only  endowments  were  those  of 
grace  and  nature,  but  whose  shrewd  sense,  keen  wit,  glow- 
ing fancy,  melting  pathos,  and  energetic  delivery  would 
allow  none  to  be  inattentive  or  unaffected  in  his  audience. 

In  the  year  183-,  an  aged  English  local  preacher  moved 
into  the  city  of  Boston  from  the  British  provinces. 

7J=, 


78  THK    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

The  old  local  preacher  was  mingling  in  a  public  throng  one 
day  with  a  friend,  when  they  met  "  Father  T — ."  A  few  words 
of  introduction  led  to  a  free  conversation,  in  which  the  former 
residence  of  his  wife  in  the  city  was  mentioned,  and  allusion 
was  made  to  her  prayer-meeting — her  former  name  was  asked 
by  "Father  T — ;"  he  seemed  seized  by  an  impulse— inquired 
their  residence,  hastened  away,  and  in  a  short  time  arrived  in 
a  carriage,  with  all  his  family,  at  the  home  of  the  aged  pair. 
There  a  scene  ensued  which  must  be  left  to  the  imagination 
of  the  reader.  "  Father  Taylor"  was  the  sailor  boy  of  the 
prayer-meeting  and  the  prison.  The  old  lady  was  the  widow 
who  had  first  cared  for  his  soul.     They  had  met  once  more  ! 


REV.  DR.  PAYSON. 


A  WRITER  in  the  Christian  Mirror  says  : — As  a  preacher, 
Payson  was  eminently  prayerful.  It  was  manifest  in  private 
intercourse  with  his  Divine  Master.  "  Payson,"  said  an  elder- 
ly minister  of  Christ,  respecting  him,  "Payson  does  not  need 
to  go  to  the  throne  of  grace,  for  he  is  always  there."  About 
the  time  I  was  licensed,  and  was  leaving  for  the  field  where  I 
laboured  sixteen  years,  he  said  to  me — "  Brother  M.,  I  would 
never  leave  my  study  without  having  first  prayed."  And  he 
seemed  to  read  the  holy  word  with  much  prayer.  He  studied, 
he  planned,  he  wrote,  he  pronounced  his  sermons  in  prayer. 
He  seemed  to  be  habitually  sensible  that  God  only  could  give 
his  words  success  ;  and  such  was  his  faith  in  the  efficacy  of 
prayer,  that  he  once  said  to  the  writer,  "If  I  really  knew  I 
needed  two  such  worlds  as  this  for  my  own  private  accommoda- 


REV.    DK.    STRONG.  70 

tion,  1  should  no  more  hesitate  to  ask  for  them,  than  I  should 
hesitate  to  ask  for  my  daily  bread."  And  exerpising  this  faith 
in  the  efficacy  of  prayer,  it  is  not  strange  that  he  should  be 
much  in  prayer  for  the  Holy  Spirit  to  accompany  his  efforts 
in  the  ministry.  Here  was  his  chief  dependence  for  success. 
For  though  his  powers  of  oratory  were  far  above  most  in  the 
holy  office — though  his  imagination  was  most  inventive  and 
brilliant — seldom  surpassed — his  memory  remarkably  tena- 
cious, and  his  reading  extensive,  yet  his  dependence  for  suc- 
cefs,  I  repeat  it,  was  on  the  promised  assistance  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.  This  was  seen  in  his  sermons.  It  was  especially  seen 
in  his  addresses  at  the  throne  of  grace.  The  assembly  to  whom 
he  administered  were,  by  his  manner  in  prayer,  made  to  feel 
that  their  minister  leaned  upon  an  almighty  arm,  in  his  great 
work.  They  heard  him  address  the  Saviour  in  such  humble 
confidence,  as  to  convince  them  that  there  was  his  only  hope. 


REV.  DR.  STRONG. 


The  Rev.  Mr. was  appointed  many  years  ago  to  preach 

the  election  sermon  before  the  governor,  senators  and  repre- 
sentatives of  Connecticut.  Unaccustomed  to  such  an  audience, 
he  displayed  no  little  diffidence  and  trepidation  in  prospect  of 
appearing  before  so  much  talent  and  dignity.  This  being  no- 
ticed by  the  company  in  which  he  was,  a  brother  in  the  minis- 
try, of  a  different  mental  character,  said  to  him,  "Why,  bro- 
ther   ,  don't  mind  the  governor  and  the  great  people ;  just 

think  they  are  all  cabbage  heads,  and  then  you  will  be  at  your 
ease."  "Think  no  such  thing,"  said  the  excellent  Dr.  Strong, 
taking  his  friend  aside;  "think  that  you  are  going  to  preach 


80  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

before  the  most  intellectual,  and  honorable,  and  learned  audi- 
ence that  can  be  assembled  in  the  State ;  bear  in  mind  that 
they  are  immortal  men,  who  will  stand  with  you  in  the  judg- 
ment of  the  great  day  ;  remember  that  angels  are  present,  and 
so  is  your  Lord  and  Master  ;  fill  your  thoughts  with  a  sense  of 
his  presence,  and  your  obligations ;  think  of  his  goodness  and 
his  promises ;  let  God  fill  your  whole  field  of  vision,  and  man 
will  appear  in  his  proper  diminutiveness ;  rely  upon  it,  the 
more  your  mind  is  awed  by  reflections  like  these,  the  more 
calm,  and  balanced,  and  composed  will  it  be."  The  preacher 
took  the  advice  thus  rendered,  and  afterwards  thanked  the 
friend  who  gave  it,  for  the  happy  effects  which  it  produced. 


INCIDENTS  CONNECTED  WITH  THE  PULPIT 
LABOURS  OF  THE  CLERGY. 


(81) 


REV.    DOCTOR    RODGERS.  83 


REV.  DOCTOR  RODGERS. 

The  following  is  one  among  many  instances  which  might 
be  given  of  the  striking  character  of  the  preaching  of  this  ex- 
cellent man,  while  he  resided  at  St.  George's,  before  his  remo- 
val to  New  York. 

The  celebrated  George  Whitefield  had  appointed,  on  a  cer- 
tain day,  to  preach  within  a  few  miles  of  Mr.  Rodgers'  resi- 
dence ;  and  the  people  of  the  neighbourhood  assembled  to  the 
number  of  from  five  to  six  thousand.  Owing,  however,  to 
some  circumstance,  not  now  known,  Mr.  Whitefield  did  not 
arrive.  The  people,  after  waiting  in  vain  for  a  considerable 
time,  urged  Mr.  Rodgers,  who  was  present,  to  rise  and  address 
them.  For  any  man,  with  the  best  preparation,  to  take  the 
place  of  Whitefield,  and  preach  to  an  audience  assembled  to 
hear  him,  would  have  been  an  arduous  task ;  but  to  do  this  on 
a  sudden  call,  and  with  scarcely  any  preparation,  was  much 
more  so.  Mr.  Rodgers,  however,  wisely  made  it  one  of  the 
first  principles  of  his  ministry,  never  to  shrink  from  any  ser- 
vice to  which  the  providence  of  God  evidently  called  him.  He 
therefore  determined,  without  any  hesitation,  to  comply  with 
the  request  of  his  friends  ;  and,  after  a  moment's  premeditation, 
rose  and  preached  to  the  multitude  in  the  open  air.  The  con- 
sequences were  most  happy.  It  proved,  indeed,  a  day  of 
power.  It  was  the  opinion  of  many  who  heard  him,  that  not- 
withstanding all  the  disadvantages  of  the  occasion,  the  preacher 
scarcely  ever  spoke  so  acceptably  or  so  well.  The  congregation, 
on  dispersing,  unequivocally  manifested  that  they  had  not  been 
disappointed ;  and  very  many  had  reason  long  to  remember  the 
solemnities  of  the  day  with  grateful  and  endearing  joy. 


84  THE    AMERICj^/.    clergy. 

When  the  Doctor  was  a  young  man,  in  the  summer  of  1748, 
he  spent  some  time  in  Maryland,  wher6  his  preaching  and  his 
manners  were  very  attractive,  and  where  he  met  with  con- 
siderable success. 

One  case,  that  of  a  Mr.  Winder,  a  gentleman  of  great  wealth 
and  urbanity,  may  be  more  distinctly  alluded  to.  He  was  a  polite 
scholar,  and  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  but,  neverthe- 
less, called  with  much  courtesy  on  his  neighbours  where  Mr. 
Rodgers  was  visiting,  and  invited  the  young  Presbyterian 
preacher  to  pay  him  a  visit.  Mr.  Rodgers  accepted,  and,  pre- 
viously to  his  going,  was  apprized  by  his  friends  that  Mr.  W. 
was  a  zealous,  high-toned  Episcopalian,  and  a  very  determined 
opponent  of  the  doctrine  of  Election.  He  was  scarcely  seated 
in  his  chair  at  Mr.  W.'s  house,  before  that  gentleman  introduced 
the  controversy  respecting  Election,  by  asking  his  opinion  of  a 
book  on  the  subject  which  lay  upon  the  table.  Our  young 
preacher  replied  that  he  had  never  before  seen  the  book,  but 
that  he  was  a  very  firm  believer  in  the  doctrine  of  Election,  and 
regarded  it  as  a  very  important  and  precious  part  of  the  Christian 
system.  This  plunged  them  at  once  into  the  very  midst  of  the 
dispute,  which  was  continued,  with  a  few  interruptions,  during 
the  day.  At  its  close,  Mr.  W.  acknowledged  himself  silenced 
but  not  convinced,  and  dismissed  his  guest  in  the  evening  with 
much  respect  and  friendliness. 

The  next  Sabbath  Mr.  Rodgers  preached  in  the  neighbour- 
hood, and  Mr.  Winder  was  one  of  his  hearers.  The  faithful 
and  animated  discourse  was  founded  on  Ephesians,  ii.  8  ;  "  For 
by  grace  are  ye  saved,  through  faith ;  and  that  not  of  your- 
selves, it  is  the  gift  of  God."  This  sermon  reached  the  heart 
of  Mr.  W.  He,  in  common  with  a  number  of  others,  was 
deeply  affected  in  the  course  of  the  service,  and  retired  from  the 
house  of  worship  with  very  different  views  of  himself,  and  of 
the  way  of  salvation,  from  those  which  he  had  entertained 
before.     The  next  day  he  called  on  Mr.  Rodgers,  not  to  cavil 


REV.    DR.    RODGERS.  85 

at  the  doctrine  of  Election,  nor  to  speculate  on  the  mysteries 
of  religion,  but  to  ask,  as  a  convinced  sinner,  what  he  must  do 
to  be  saved.  His  heart  was  now  softened,  his  difficulties  in  a 
great  measure  removed,  and  he  was  convinced  that  if  he  were 
saved  at  all,  it  must  be  by  grace  alone.  He  was  ready  to 
acknowledge  himself  an  instance  of  the  sovereignty  of  divine 
mercy,  and  in  a  short  time  found  peace  and  consolation  in  the 
truths  which  a  few  days  before  he  had  opposed  as  unscriptural 
and  forbidding.  He  united  with  the  church,  and  became  for 
many  years  an  exemplary  ruling  elder,  and  often  spoke  of  the 
revolution  which  his  views  and  hopes  had  undergone,  and  of 
the  circumstances  attending  it,  with  deep  humility  and  fervent 
gratitude. 


The  impression  which  this  excellent  man  could  produce  by 
his  preaching,  may  be  further  judged  of  from  the  following 
facts : 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Synod  in  1774,  he  was  appointed  to 
spend  a  number  of  weeks,  in  the  summer  and  autumn  of  that 
year,  on  a  missionary  tour,  through  the  northern  and  north- 
western parts  of  the  province  of  New  York.  He  devoted  seve- 
ral months  to  that  service,  and  with  renewed  zeal  and  assiduity, 
for  the  most  part  in  places  utterly  destitute  of  the  means  of 
grace.  These  labours  were  the  immediate  or  remote  means 
of  forming  many  churches,  which  have  since  proved  large, 
flourishing,  and  happy. 

The  period  at  which  the  Doctor  fulfilled  this  mission  was  that 
rendered  memorable  by  the  warm  dispute  between  the  settlers 
in  the  territory  which  is  now  Vermont,  and  the  government 
of  New  York,  which  claimed  that  territory  as  lying  within  its 
jurisdiction.  Measures  of  great  decision,  and  even  violence, 
had  been  taken  by  both  parties  a  short  time  before  he  went  into 
that  country  ;  so  that  he  found  the  public  mind,  particularly  in 

8 


86  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

Vermont,  highly  irritated  and  inflamed.  Nothing  was  further 
from  the  Doctor's  view  than  any  political  design ;  but  some  of 
the  jealous  and  exasperated  Vermonters,  knowing  that  he  came 
from  the  capital  of  New  York,  and  connecting  every  thing 
with  the  existing  disputes,  suspected  him  of  being  engaged  in 
some  mission  or  plan  unfriendly  to  their  claims.  In  a  par- 
ticular town  which  he  had  entered  by  appointment,  for  the  sole 
purpose  of  preaching,  he  observed,  a  little  before  the  public 
service  began,  several  rough  and  fierce-looking  men  approach 
the  house  in  which  he  was  about  to  preach,  and  enter  into 
very  earnest  and  apparently  angry  conversation  with  those 
who  stood  near  the  door.  He  was  utterly  ignorant  at  the  time 
of  their  design,  or  of  the  subject  of  their  conversation;  but  was 
afterwards  informed  that  they  were  very  warmly  contending 
with  his  friend  that  he  was  a  spy,  and  of  course  a  very 
dangerous  person,  and  that  he  ought  to  be  immediately  arrested. 
It  was  in  vain  that  the  friends  of  the  Doctor  remonstrated,  on 
the  ground  of  the  sacredness  of  his  office,  and  the  solemnity 
of  the  duty  in  which  he  was  about  to  engage,  and  to  attend  on 
which  the  people  were  now  collected  together.  His  angry 
accusers  replied,  that  the  more  sacred  his  office,  the  greater 
his  power  of  doing  mischief;  and  that  to  allow  him  to  escape 
would  be  treason  to  their  cause.  At  length,  finding  that  all 
they  could  say  availed  nothing  to  his  exculpation,  and  that  the 
most  positive  assurances  of  his  being  known  to  be  a  man  of 
pious  and  exemplary  character,  only  rendered  these  hostile 
and  ardent  spirits  more  determined  in  their  original  purpose, 
the  Doctor's  friends  only  begged  them  to  delay  the  seizure  of 
his  person  until  after  divine  service  should  be  closed,  as  it 
would  be  a  pity  to  disappoint  so  large  a  congregation  as  had 
then  assembled  for  public  worship.  To  this  proposal,  after 
much  persuasion,  they  reluctantly  consented,  and  divine  service 
began.  The  exercises  were  more  than  usually  solemn  and 
impressive ;  many  of  the  congregation  were  in  tears ;  and  even 


REV.    MR.    S.  67 

those  who  had  come  into  the  assembly  filled  with  so  much 
resentment,  were  observed  to  be  softened  with  those  around 
them.  When  worship  was  ended,  they  said  nothing  about 
their  plan  of  arresting  the  preacher,  but  quietly  retired,  and 
suffered  him  to  pursue  his  journey. 

Two  or  three  days  after  this,  while  the  Doctor  was  preaching 
in  a  more  northern  town  in  the  same  district  of  country,  soon 
after  the  service  had  begun,  he  saw  two  men  enter  the  assembly, 
marked  with  countenances  of  peculiar  ferocity  and  rage.  He 
afterwards  learned  that  they  had  come  under  the  same  impres- 
sions and  with  the  same  views  as  their  predecessors  in  violence. 
They  had,  however,  resolved  to  wait  till  the  service  should  be 
ended,  and  then  to  arrest  the  preacher.  The  exercises  of  the 
day,  as  in  the  former  case,  were  the  means  of  disarming  them. 
When  the  benediction  was  pronounced,  they  withdrew,  saying 
to  each  other,  that  they  were  probably  mistaken  in  the  man, 
and  had  better  go  home. 


REV.  MR.  S. 


The  Rev.  Mr.  S.,  a  distinguished  Methodist  preacher,  who 
was  well  known  in  the  West,  was  once  preaching  with  great 
fervour  on  the  freeness  of  the  gospel,  and  around  him  was  an 
attentive  congregation,  with  eager  eyes  turned  to  the  preacher, 
and  drinking  every  word  into  their  souls.  Among  the  rest 
was  an  individual  who  had  been  more  remarkable  for  opening 
his  mouth  to  say  amen,  than  for  opening  his  purse.  Though 
he  never  gave  money  for  the  support  of  the  gospel,  yet  he 
might  be  said  to  support  the  pulpit,  for  he  always  stood  by  it. 
He  had,  on  this  occasion,  taken  his  usual  place  near  the 
preacher's  stand,  and  was  making  his  responses  with  more 
than  usual  animation.     After  a  burst  of  burning  eloquence 


88  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY, 

from  the  preacher,  he  clasped  his  hands,  and  cried  out  in  a 
kind  of  ecstacy,  "  Yes,  thank  God  !  I  have  been  a  Methodist 
for  twenty-five  years,  and  it  hasn't  cost  me  twenty-five 
cents !"  "  God  bless  your  stingy  soul !"  was  the  preacher's 
emphatic  reply. 


A  CLERGYMAN  IN  INDIANA. 


On  a  fine  summer's  day,  in  1840,  a  clergyman  was  called 
to  preach  in  a  town  in  Indiana,  to  a  youthful  congregation. 
At  the  close  of  his  discourse,  he  addressed  his  young  hearers 
in  some  such  words  as  these :  "  Learn  that  the  present  life  is 
a  preparation  for,  and  has  a  tendency  to,  eternity.  The  pre- 
sent is  linked  to  the  future  throughout  creation,  in  the  vegeta- 
ble, in  the  animal,  and  in  the  moral  world.  As  is  the  seed,  so 
is  the  fruit  ,•  as  is  the  egg,  so  is  the  fowl ;  as  is  the  ,boy,  so  is 
the  man  ;  as  is  the  rational  being  in  this  world,  so  will  he  be  in 
the  next.  Dives  estranged  from  God  here,  is  Dives  estranged 
from  God  there ;  and  Enoch  walking  with  God  here,  is  Enoch 
walking  with  God  in  a  calmer  and  better  world.  I  beseech 
you,  then,  live  for  a  blessed  eternity.  Go  to  the  worm  that  you 
tread  upon,  and  learn  a  lesson  of  wisdom.  The  very  cater- 
pillar seeks  the  food  that  fosters  it  for  another  and  similar 
state ;  and,  more  wisely  than  man,  builds  its  own  sepulchre, 
from  whence  in  time,  by  a  kind  of  resurrection,  it  comes  forth 
a  new  creature,  in  almost  an  angelic  form.  And  now,  that 
which  was  hideous  is  beautiful ;  and  that  which  crawled,  flies  ; 
and  that  which  fed  on  comparatively  gross  food,  sips  the  dew 
and  revels  in  the  rich  pastures — an  emblem  of  that  paradise 
where  flows  the  river  of  life,  and  grows  the  tree  of  life.  Could 
the  caterpillar  have  been  diverted  from  its  proper  element  and 
mode  of  life,  it  had  never  attained  the  butterfly's  splendid  form 


REV.    J.    KENNADAY.  89 

and  hue ;  it  had  perished  a  worthless  worm.  Consider  her 
ways,  and  be  wise.  Let  it  not  be  said  that  you  are  more 
negligent  than  worms,  and  that  your  reason  is  less  available 
than  their  instinct.  As  often  as  the  butterfly  flits  across  your 
path,  remember  that  it  whispers  in  its  flight,  '  Live  for  the 
Future.'  " 

With  this  the  preacher  closed  his  discourse ;  but,  to  deepen 
the  impressions,  a  butterfly,  directed  by  the  Hand  which  guides 
alike  the  sun  and  an  atom  in  its  course,  fluttered  through  the 
church,  as  if  commissioned  by  Heaven  to  repeat  the  exhorta- 
tion. There  was  neither  speech  nor  language,  but  its  voice 
was  heard,  saying  to  the  gazing  audience,  "  Live  for  the 
Future." 


REV.  J.  KENNADAY. 


The  following  facts  were  narrated  by  the  Rev.  J.  Kennaday, 
in  a  sermon  before  a  Methodist  Conference  in  the  United  States  : 

1  remember,  on  one  occasion,  in  the  early  part  of  my  minis- 
try, when  I  visited  one  of  my  appointments  upon  the  circuit  I 
then  travelled,  I  was  seated  amid  my  studies,  seriously  reflect- 
ing upon  my  labours  in  that  village,  when  one  of  the  brethren, 
an  aged  and  judicious  man,  entered  my  room,  and  after  a  few 
moments'  conversation  on  the  state  of  the  congregation,  more 
marked  for  the  greatness  of  its  numbers,  and  the  solemnity  of 
its  general  attention,  than  for  the  instances  of  conversion, 
observed,  "  I  have  thought  that  I  would  suggest  to  you  the 
propriety  of  preaching,  this  evening,  on  the  love  of  God.  I 
sometimes  think  we  hear  so  much  of  terror  and  of  wrath,  that 
the  people  become  hardened."  I  thanked  him  for  his  advice, 
for  I  believed  it  was  given  in  candour  and  affection.  He  had 
been  gone  from  my   room   but  a  little  while,  when  another 

8* 


90  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

entered,  a  brother  deservedly  beloved,  and  of  no  less  influence. 
I  soon  perceived  that  the  state  of  the  congregation  was  the 
burden  of  his  heart.  In  a  little  time  he  remarked,  "  I  thought 
I  would  take  the  liberty  of  advising  you  to  preach  a  sermon 
to-night,  on  the  terrors  of  the  law.  It  is  a  long  time  since  we 
heard  a  sermon  truly  alarming,  and  the  people,  I  fear,  are 
presuming  unjustly  upon  that  love  of  which  they  hear  so  con- 
stantly. Give  us  something,  brother,  that  will  arouse."  Could 
opinions  be  more  conflicting  ?  And  yet  they  were  men  of  sound 
piety,  and  of  no  ordinary  judgment.  This  little  incident,  so 
early  occurring,  taught  me,  through  my  ministry,  incessantly 
and  intensely,  so  to  "speak,  not  as  pleasing  men,  but  God." 


REV.  DR.  GRIFFIN. 


Soon  after  the  settlement  of  the  late  Rev.  E.  D.  Griffin  at 
Newark,  he  preached  a  sermon  on  the  doctrine  of  election. 
Many  of  his  hearers  were  offended ;  and  some  of  his  principal 
supporters  threatened  to  leave  him.  A  great  excitement 
existed ;  for  a  heavy  blow  had  been  struck.  They  went  to 
Dr.  Richards  with  their  complaints.  He  told  them  to  bo 
calm — not  to  act  rashly.  If  that  doctrine  was  of  God,  it 
would  stand :  and  he  cautioned  them  not  to  be  found  fighting 
against  God.  Dr.  G.  soon  after  called  upon  him,  and  said,  in 
great  agitation,  "  I  have  ruined  myself — I  have  broken  up  my 
congregation."  "  I  hope  not,"  said  Dr.  R.  Dr.  G.  inquired 
what  he  should  do.  Dr.  R.  replied,  "  I  will  tell  you.  Go 
home,  and  write  two  sermons  on  the  doctrine  of  election,  with 
as  much  care  and  consideration  as  though  your  life  depended 
on  every  sentence.  Pray  over  them;  and  next  Sabbath 
preach    them,  under  the   consciousness  that  the   eye  of  the 


REV.    DR.    GRIFFIN.  91 

Saviour  is  upon  you."  He  sat  with  a  fixed  look,  while  his 
friend  was  speaking.  No  sooner  had  he  ceased,  than  Dr.  G. 
sprang  on  his  feet,  and  said,  as  he  left  the  room,  "  I'll  do  it." 
The  Sabbath  came.  Dr.  Richards  obtained  a  supply  for  his 
pulpit,  and  was  present  to  hear  his  friend.  In  the  interval,  he 
had  seen  the  disaffected  persons,  and  others ;  and  urged  all  to 
attend.  He  sat  in  a  retired  part  of  the  house,  and  observed 
Dr.  G.,  as  he  entered  the  church.  His  great  soul  was  op- 
pressed. His  noble  countenance  beamed  with  light — his  eye 
was  full  of  fire.  He  preached  like  a  dying  man.  The  house 
was  still  as  death.  The  Spirit  of  God  was  there.  In  the 
afternoon,  every  seat,  and  aisle,  and  corner,  was  crowded. 
All  Newark  was  moved.  Dr.  G.  stood  up,  and  vindicated 
the  law  and  government  of  God.  He  rose  with  the  subject, 
till  an  awe  was  felt  which  subdued  every  heart.  The  effect 
was  wonderful.  Those  very  men  came  round  him,  as  he  de- 
scended from  the  pulpit,  and  wept.  The  Spirit  of  God  sub- 
dued them.  That  day,  "  the  great  revival,"  of  which  every 
one  has  heard,  began ;  and  before  it  ceased,  hundreds  were 
converted  to  Jesus  Christ. 


A  writer  in  the  Christian  Review  of  1839,  gives  the  following 
description  of  a  scene  he  himself  witnessed.  Speaking  of  Dr. 
Griffin,  he  says : — We  remember  him,  on  one  occasion,  as  he 
was  about  to  preach  before  a  large  assembly  of  an  evening.  It 
was  a  time  of  deep  interest  in  religion.  He  always  took  ample 
time  to  review  his  sermon,  and  get  his  heart  in  a  proper  frame, 
before  he  went  into  the  pulpit.  As  he  entered  the  sanctuary, 
his  majestic  form  and  snow-white  head  attracted  every  eye. 
He  seemed  to  be  pondering  awful  subjects,  as  he  ascended  the 
sacred  desk.  He  read  the  hymn  in  a  tremulous  tone.  His 
prayer  was  short,  simple,  and  earnest.     As  he  arose  behind  a 


92  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

temporary  breast-work,  erected  to  accommodate  his  unusual 
height,  he  looked  around  the  assembly  with  the  solicitude  of  a 
parent.  His  text  was  Isa.  i.  18. — "  Come,  now,  and  let  ns 
reason  together,  saith  the  Lord."  His  feelings,  the  subject,  the 
place,  the  assembly,  all  conspired  to  give  uncommon  interest 
to  the  effort.  After  a  few  remarks,  he  said  : — "  My  business, 
at  present,  is  with  impenitent  sinners.  I  would  single  them 
out  from  the  crowd,  and  take  them  aside,  and  say  in  their 
e^r — I  have  a  message  from  the  Lord  to  deliver  to  you.  I 
am  sent  to  reason  with  you,  in  His  name,  about  the  high  con- 
cerns of  a  future  world — about  your  interests  a  thousand  ages 
hence- — about  the  claims  which  the  Sovereign  of  the  world  has 
upon  you,  and  the  long  score  of  uncancelled  charges  which 
He  has  against  you.  Let  Christians  stand  by,  and  assist  me 
with  their  prayers,  while  I  attempt  to  recall  from  death  this 
interesting  multitude."  This  happy  introduction  seemed  to 
divest  his  manner  of  the  formality  of  the  preacher,  and  his  ad- 
dress of  the  regularity  of  a  sermon.  We  could  think  of  no- 
thing but  a  parent  speaking,  in  all  the  tenderness  of  his  heart, 
to  his  wayward  offspring.  His  teilder  spirit,  and  subdued 
tones,  served  to  render  the  illusion  the  more  complete.  "  My 
poor  hearers,"  he  continued,  "  you  have  often  considered  an 
address  from  the  pulpit  as  a  matter  of  course,  and  felt  no  per- 
sonal interest  in  it.  But  it  must  not  be  so  now.  I  have 
a  solemn  errand  from  the  Lord  to  do  to  you,  one  by  one?'' 
Each  one  seemed  disposed  to  give  him  his  hand,  and  come  to 
his  side,  to  hear  his  message.  He  then  proceeded,  in  an  easy 
way,  to  reason  and  expostulate  with  them.  There  was  the 
most  breathless  attention.  He  was  short,  direct,  and  over- 
whelming. We  think  we  see  him  now,  as  he  stood,  at  the 
close,  referring  his  weeping  hearers  to  the  awful  scenes  of  the 
judgment : — "  My  beloved  friends,"  he  said,  "  I  expect  soon  to 
meet  you  at  that  bar,  and  give  an  account  of  my  labours 
among  you  to-night."     It  is  solemn  to  reflect,  that  many  who 


REV.    DR.    GRIFFIN.  93 

heard  him  on  that  evening  are  in  eternity.  They  have  met 
.  him  before  the  throne  of  God.  As  though  an  unwonted  solem- 
nity had  come  over  him,  he  said,  with  deep  unction :  "  It  is  in 
full  view  of  that  awful  scene,  that  I  am  speaking  thus  to  you. 
I  would  not  have  you  perish ;  but" — gathering  himself  up,  he 
said,  with  great  deliberation — "  but  if  you  perish,  I  would  clear 
my  garments  of  your  blood." 

As  though  not  satisfied,  and  reluctant  to  leave  them,  he 
came  forward  in  the  pulpit,  and  said,  with  impassioned  tones : 
—  "  But  you  must  not  perish.  The  calls  of  mercy  are  still  out. 
I  have  returned  to  my  text,  and  found  it  written — '  Though 
your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they  shall  be  white  as  snow ;  though 
they  be  red  like  crimson,  they  shall  be  as  wool.'  These  hea- 
venly words,  issuing  from  the  eternal  throne,  still  mingle  their 
sounds  about  your  ears.  There  is  yet  hope.  You  need  not 
perish.  The  door  of  mercy  is  not  yet  closed.  That  Saviour 
whom  you  just  now  saw  on  the  judgment-seat,  once  died  on 
Calvary.  Though  you  have  so  long  trifled  with  his  blood — 
though  you  have  so  long  abused  sermons  and  Sabbaths — 
though  you  have  ten  thousand  times  been  found  in  arms 
against  the  Sovereign  of  the  world,  yet  in  that  blood,  all  your 
stains  may  be  washed  out — all  your  treasons  purged.  Only 
do  not  now  seal  your  damnation,  by  longer  rejecting  his 
mercy.  Fall  down  now  at  his  feet :  go  not  from  this  house, 
till  you  have  bathed  them  with  your  tears,  and  wiped  them 
with  the  hairs  of  your  head.  This  is  an  awful  moment. 
Heaven,  earth,  and  hell,  are  now  opened  before  you.  From 
the  throne  of  God,  which  is  placed  in  the  midst,  the  invitation 
is  still  proceeding.  Not  man,  but  God  himself,  is  now  speak- 
ing to  you.  If  you  turn  away,  it  will  be  like  those  who  turned 
away  when  their  feet  touched  the  borders  of  the  promised 
land.  They  could  not  be  forgiven,  but  must  perish  in  the 
wilderness.  Take  care  what  you  do  ;  for  you  are  now  stand- 
ing near  the  Shechinah.     Drop  the  weapons  from  your  bloody 


94  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

hands.  With  those  trembling  arms,  clasp  His  feet;  resolving 
never  to  quit  your  hold  : — that  if  he  tread  you  down,  you  will 
sink,  but  that  you  will  never  leave  the  spot,  till  one  look  as- 
sures you  that  your  sins  are  forgiven.  Oh,  could  we  see  you 
thus  !  Are  you  afraid  to  gol  Why,  it  is  the  same  Being  who 
left  the  realms  of  glory  to  die  for  you.  Go,  with  greater  con- 
fidence than  you  ever  went  to  an  earthly  parent.  Go,  with  all 
your  sins  upon  you.  It  is  not  io  judge  that  He  has  now  come. 
He  has  come  to  heal  the  broken-hearted,  and  to  preach  deli- 
verance to  the  captives.  The  love  of  Jesus  looks  out  of  his 
eye.  His  hands,  bearing  still  the  prints  of  the  nails,  are  ex- 
tended to  receive  you.  Go,  and  give  pleasure  to  that  heart 
which  bled  on  the  point  of  the  spear.  Go,  and  find  your  hea- 
ven in  the  sweetness  of  that  embrace.  Go. — You  see  him 
there  !— Oh,  go  !" 

Some  of  his  tones  yet  linger  on  our  ear.  Some  of  his 
expressions  of  countenance  are  yet  present  to  our  recollection. 
That  picture  can  never  fade  from  our  mind. 


REV.  W.  ROBINSON. 


In  the  year  1473,  the  Rev.  "W.  Robinson  was  sent  by  the 

"  New  Light"  presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  to  preach  in 
North  Carolina,  and  was  engaged  to  pay  a  visit  to  some  towns 
in  Hanover. 

On  the  Saturday  before  the  Sabbath  on  which  he  had  engaged 
to  preach  there,  he  had  to  ride  late  at  night  to  reach  a  tavern, 
within  eight  or  ten  miles  of  the  place.  The  tavern-keeper  was 
a  shrewd,  boisterous,  profane  man ;  and  when  uttering  some 
horrid  oatb,  Mr.  Robinson  ventured  to  reprove  him ;  and 
although  it  was  done  in  a  mild  manner,  the  inn-keeper  gave 
him  a  sarcastic  look,  and  said,  "  Pray,  sir,  who  are  you,  to 


A    CLERGYMAN    IN    MAINE.  95 

take  such  authority  upon  yourself?"  "lama  minister  of  the 
gospel,"  replied  Mr.  R.  "  Then  you  belie  your  looks  very 
much,"  said  the  tavern-keeper.  This  referred  to  the  circum- 
stance that,  owing  to  the  small-pox,  Mr.  R.  haa  a  very  rough 
face,  and  had  lost  the  sight  of  one  of  his  eyes.  Mr.  Robinson 
said,  "  If  you  wish  certainly  to  know  whether  I  am  a  minister 
or  not,  if  you  will  accompany  me  to  such  a  place,  you  may  be 
convinced  by  hearing  me  preach."  "  I  will,"  said  the  inn- 
keeper, "  if  you  will  preach  from  a  text  which  I  shall  give 
you."  "  Let  me  have  it,"  said  Mr.  Robinson,  "  and  if  there 
is  nothinor  unsuitable  in  it,  I  will."  The  wagorish  tavern- 
keeper,  with  the  wish  of  turning  him  into  ridicule,  assigned 
him  the  text,  *'  I  am  fearfully  and  wonderfully  made,"  (Psalm 
cxxxix.  14.)  Mr.  Robinson  promised  that  if  he  would  accom- 
pany him,  he  would  preach,  among  his  first  sermons,  one  from 
that  text.  He  did  so,  and  before  the  sermon  was  ended,  this 
wicked  man  was  made  to  feel  that  he  was  the  monster,  and 
that  he  was  fearfully  and  wonderfully  made  himself.  It  is 
said  that  he  became  a  very  pious  and  useful  member  of  the 
church. 


A  CLERGYMAN  IN  MAINE. 


The  following  fact  we  copy  from  Dr.  Cotton  Mather's  Mag- 
nolia ;  we  are  afraid  that  it  does  not  present  the  only  instance 
where  clergymen  have  attributed  good  motives  to  their  people 
without  their  being  deserved. 

There  were  more  than  a  few  attempts  of  the  English,  to 
people  and  improve  the  parts  of  New  England,  which  were  to 
the  northward  of  New  Plymouth  ;  but  the  designs  of  those 
attempts  being  aimed  no  higher  than  the  advancement  of  some 
worldly  interests,  a  constant  series  of  disasters  had  confounded 
them,  until  there  was  a  plantation  erected  upon  the  nobler 


96  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY 

designs  of  Christianity ;  and  that  plantation,  though  perhaps  it 
has  had  more  adversities  than  any  one  upon  earth,  yet,  having 
obtained  help  from  God,  it  continues  to  this  day.  There  have 
been  very  fine  settlements  in  the  north-east  regions ;  but  what 
has  become  of  them?  I  have  heard  that  one  of  our  ministers, 
once  preaching  to  a  congregation  there,  urged  them  to  consider 
themselves  a  religious  people  from  this  consideration, — that 
otherwise  they  would  contradict  the  main  end  of  planting  this 
wilderness ;  whereupon  a  well-known  person,  then  in  the 
assembly,  cried  out,  "  Sir,  you  are  mistaken :  you  think  you 
are  preaching  to  the  people  at  the  Bay :  our  main  end  was  to 
catch  fish." 


AN  INDIAN  MISSIONARY. 


In  the  year  1798,  one  of  the  missionaries  to  the  Indians  of 
the  north-west  was  on  his  way  from  the  Tuscarora  settlement 
to  the  Senecas.  Journeying  in  pious  meditation  through  the 
forest,  a  majestic  Indian  darted  from  its  recesses,  and  arrestee^ 
his  progress.  His  hair  was  somewhat  changed  with  age,  and 
his  face  marked  with  the  deep  furrows  of  time ;  but  his  eyes 
expressed  all  the  fiery  vivacity  of  youthful  passion,  and  his 
step  was  that  of  a  warrior  in  the  vigour  of  manhood. 

"  White  man  of  the  ocean,  whither  wanderest  thou?"  said  the 
Indian.  "  I  am  travelling,"  replied  the  meek  disciple  of  peace, 
"  towards  the  dwellings  of  thy  brethren,  to  teach  them  the 
knowledge  of  the  only  true  God,  and  to  lead  them  to  peace  and 
happiness."  "  To  peace  and  happiness !"  exclaimed  the  tall 
chief,  while  his  eye  seemed  to  flash  fire — "behold  the  blessings 
that  follow  the  footsteps  of  the  white  man ;  wherever  he  comes, 
the  nations  of  the  woodlands  fade  from  the  eye,  like  the  mists 
of  morning.  Once,  over  the  wide  forests  of  the  surrounding 
world,   our  people  roamed   in   peace  and  freedom,  nor  ever 


AN    INDIA?.'    MISSION ABiT.  97 

dreamed  of  greater  happiness  than  to  hunt  the  beaver,  the  bear, 
and  the  wild  deer.  From  the  furthest  extremity  of  the  wide 
deep,  came  the  white  man,  armed  with  thunder  and  lightning, 
and  weapons  still  more  pernicious.  In  war  he  hunted  us  like 
■wild  beasts ;  in  peace  he  destroyed  us  b)'-  deadly  liquors,  or  yet 
more  deadly  frauds.  But  a  few  moons  had  passed  away,  and 
whole  nations  of  invincible  warriors,  and  of  hunters  that  fear- 
lessly swept  the  forest  and  the  mountain,  perished,  vainly 
opposing  their  triumphant  invaders  ;  or  quietly  dwindled  into 
slaves  and  drunkards,  and  their  names  withered  from  the 
earth.  Retire,  dangerous  man ;  leave  us  all  we  have  yet  left, 
our  savage  virtues  and  our  gods ;  and  do  not,  in  the  vain 
attempt  to  cultivate  a  rude  and  barren  soil,  pluck  up  the  few 
thrifty  plants  of  native  growth  that  have  survived  the  fostering 
cares  of  thy  people,  and  weathered  the  stormy  career  of  their 
pernicious  friendship."  The  tall  chief  darted  into  the  wood,  and 
the  good  missionary  pursued  his  way  with  pious  resolution. 

He  preached  the  only  true  Divinity,  and  placed  before  the 
eyes  of  the  wandering  savages  the  beauty  of  holiness,  the  suf- 
ferings of  the  Redeemer,  and  the  sublime  glories  of  the  Christian 
heaven.  He  allured  them  with  the  hope  of  everlasting  bliss, 
and  alarmed  them  with  denunciations  of  an  eternity  of  misery 
and  despair.  The  awe-struck  Indians,  roused  by  these  accu- 
mulated motives,  many  of  them  adopted  the  precepts  of  the 
missionary  so  far  as  they  could  comprehend  them ;  and  in  the 
course  of  eighteen  months,  their  devotion  became  rational, 
regular,  and  apparently  permanent. 

All  at  once,  however,  the  little  church  in  which  the  good 
man  was  wont  to  pen  his  fold,  became  deserted.  No  votary 
came  as  usual  to  listen  with  decent  reverence  to  the  pure 
doctrines  which  they  were  accustomed  to  hear ;  and  only  a 
few  solitary  idlers  were  seen  of  a  Sunday  morning,  lounging 
about,  and  casting  a  wistful,  yet  fearful  look  at  their  little, 
peaceful,  and  now  silent  mansion. 

9 


98  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

The  missionary  sought  them  out,  inquired  into  the  cause  of 
this  mysterious  desertion,  and  told  them  of  the  bitterness  of 
hereafter  to  those  who,  having  once  known,  abandoned  the 
religion  of  the  only  true  God.  The  poor  Indians  shook  their 
heads,  and  informed  him  that  the  Great  Spirit  was  angry  at 
their  apostasy,  and  had  sent  a  prophet  from  the  summit  of  the 
Alleghany  mountain  to  warn  them  against  the  admission  of 
new  doctrines ;  that  there  was  to  be  a  meeting  of  the  old  men 
soon,  and  that  the  prophet  would  then  deliver  to  the  people  the 
message  with  which  he  was  intrusted.  The  zealous  missionary 
determined  to  be  present,  and  to  confront  the  impostor,  who 
was  known  by  the  appellation  of  The  Prophet  of  the  Alleghany 
He  accordingly  obtained  permission  from  the  chiefs  to  appear 
at  the  council,  and  to  reply  to  the  charges  that  might  be  brought 
forward.  The  12th  of  June,  1802,  was  the  time  for  the  decision 
of  the  solemn  question,  "whether  the  belief  of  their  forefathers 
or  that  of  the  white  men  was  the  true  religion."  The  usual 
council-house  not  being  large  enough  to  contain  so  great  an 
assemblage  of  people,  they  met  in  a  valley  about  eight  miles 
to  the  westward  of  Seneca  Lake.  This  valley  was  then  em- 
bowered under  lofty  trees ;  it  is  surrounded  on  almost  every 
side  with  high  rugged  hills,  and  through  it  meanders  a  small 
river. 

It  was  a  scene  to  call  forth  every  energy  of  the  human  heart. 
On  a  smooth  level,  near  the  bank  of  a  slow  stream,  under  the 
shade  of  a  large  elm,  sat  the  chief  men  of  the  tribes.  Around 
the  circle  which  they  formed,  was  gathered  a  crowd  of  won- 
dering savages,  with  eager  looks,  seeming  to  demand  the  true 
God  at  the  hands  of  their  wise  men. 

In  the  middle  of  the  circle  sat  the  aged  and  travel-worn 
missionary.  A  few  gray  hairs  wandered  over  his  brow,  his 
hands  were  crossed  on  his  bosom,  and  as  he  cast  his  hopcr 
beaming  eye  to  Heaven,  he  seemed  to  be  calling  with  pious  fer- 


AN    INDIAN    MISSIONARY.  99 

vour  upon  the  God  of  truth,  to  vindicate  his  own  eternal  word 
by  the  mouth  of  his  servant. 

For  more  than  half  an  hour  there  was  silence  in  the  valley, 
s  ive  the  whispering  of  the  trees  in  the  south  wind,  and  the  indis- 
tinct murmuring  of  the  river.  Then  all  at  once  a  sound  of 
astonishment  passed  through  the  crowd,  and  the  prophet  of  the 
Alleghany  was  seen  descending  one  of  the  high  hills.  With 
furious  and  frenzied  step  he  entered  the  circle,  and  wavino-  his 
hand  in  token  of  silence,  the  missionary  saw  with  surprise  the 
same  tall  chief  who,  four  years  before,  had  crossed  him  in  the 
Tuscarora  forest.  The  same  panther  skin  hung  over  his 
shoulder,  the  same  tomahawk  quivered  in  his  hand,  and  the 
same  fiery  and  malignant  spirit  burned  in  his  red  eye.  He 
addressed  the  awe-struck  Indians,  and  the  valley  rung  with  his 
iron  voice. 

"  Red  men  of  the  woods,  hear  what  the  Great  Spirit  says  to 
his  children  who  have  forsaken  him. 

"Throuo-h  the  wide  res^ions  that  were  once  the  inheritance 
of  my  people,  and  where  for  ages  they  roved  as  free  as  the 
wild  winds.,  resounds  the  axe  of  the  white  man.  The  paths  of 
your  forefathers  are  polluted  by  their  steps,  and  your  hunting- 
fields  are  every  day  wrested  from  you  by  their  arts.  Once,  on 
the  shores  of  the  mighty  ocean,  your  fathers  were  wont  to 
enjoy  all  the  luxuriant  delights  of  the  deep.  Now  you  are 
exiles  in  swamps  or  on  barren  hills ;  and  these  wretched  pos- 
sessions you  enjoy  by  the  precarious  tenure  of  the  white  man's 
will.  The  shrill  cry  of  revelry  or  war  is  no  more  heard  on 
the  majestic  shores  of  the  Hudson,  or  the  sweet  banks  of  the 
silver  Mohawk.  There,  where  the  Indian  lived  and  died  as 
free  as  the  air  he  breathed,  and  chased  the  panther  and  the 
deer  from  morn  till  evening — even  there  the  Christian  slave 
cultivates  the  soil  in  undisturbed  possession  ;  and  as  he  whis- 
tles behind  his  plough,  turns  up  the  sacred  remains  of  your 
buried  ancestors.     Have  ve  not  heard  at  eveninf!;.  and  some- 


100 


THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


times  at  dead  of  night,  those  mournful  and  melodious  sounds 
that  steal  through  the  deep  valleys,  or  along  the  mountain 
sides,  like  the  song  of  echo?  These  are  the  wailings  of  those 
spirits,  whose  bones  have  been  turned  up  by  the  sacrilegious 
labours  of  the  white  man,  and  left  to  the  mercy  of  the  rains  and 
tempest.  They  call  upon  you  to  avenge  them — they  adjure 
you,  by  every  motive  that  can  rouse  the  hearts  of  the  brave,  to 
wake  from  your  long  sleep,  and,  by  returning  to  the  invaders 
of  the  grave,  the  long  arrears  of  vengeance,  restore  again  the 
tired  and  wandering  spirits  to  their  blissful  paradise,  far  beyond 
the  blue  hills. 

"These  are  the  blessings  you  owe  to  the  Christians.  They 
have  driven  your  fathers  from  their  ancient  inheritance — they 
have  destroyed  them  with  the  sword  and  poisonous  liquors — 
they  have  dug  up  their  bones,  and  left  them  to  bleach  in  the 
wind — and  now  they  aim  at  completing  your  wrongs,  insuring 
your  destruction,  by  cheating  you  info  the  belief  of  that  Divinity, 
whose  very  precepts  they  plead  in  justification  of  all  the  mise- 
ries they  have  heaped  upon  your  race. 

"  Hear  me,  O,  deluded  people,  for  the  last  time  1  If  you 
persist  in  deserting  my  altars,  if  still  you  arc  determined  to 
listen,  with  fatal  credulity,  to  the  strange,  pernicious  doctrines 
of  these  Christian  usurpers — if  you  are  unalterably  devoted  to 
vour  new  Gods,  and  new  customs — if  you  will  be  the  friends  of 
the  white  man,  and  the  followers  of  his  God — my  wrath  shall 
follow  you  ;  I  will  dart  my  arrows  of  forked  lightning  amongst 
'  your  towns,  and  send  the  warring  tempest  of  winter  to  devour 
you.  Ye  shall  become  bloated  with  intemperance:  your  num- 
bers  shall  dwindle  away,  until  but  a  {Q\f  wretched  slaves  sur- 
vive;  and  these  shall  be  driven  deeper  and  deeper  into  the 
wild,  there  to  associate  with  the  dastard  beasts  of  the  forest, 
who  once  fled  before  the  mighty  hunters  of  your  tribe.  The 
spirits  of  your  fathers  shall  curse  you  from  the  shores  of  that 
happy  island  in  the  Great  Lake,  where  they  enjoy  an  everlast- 


AN    INDIAN    MISSIONARY.  101 

mg  season  of  hunting,  and  chase  the  wild  deer  with  dogs 
swifter  than  the  wind.  Lastly,  I  swear  by  the  lightning,  the 
thunder,  and  the  tempest,  that  in  the  space  of  sixty  moons,  of 
-all  the  Senecas,  not  one  of  yourselves  or  your  posterity  shall 
remain  on  the  face  of  the  earth." 

The  prophet  ended  his  message,  which  was  delivered  with 
the  wild  eloquence  of  real  or  fancied  inspiration  ;  and  all  at 
once  the  crowd  seemed  to  be  agitated  with  a  savage  sentiment 
of  indignation  against  the  good  missionary.  One  of  the  fiercest 
broke  through  the  circle  of  old  men  to  despatch  him,  but  was 
restrained  by  their  authority. 

When  this  sudden  feeling  had  somewhat  subsided,  the  mild 
and  benevolent  minister  of  God  obtained  permission  to  speak 
on  behalf  of  Him  by  whom  he  had  been  sent.  Never  have  I 
seen  a  more  touching,  pathetic  figure,  than  this  good  man.  He 
seemed  past  sixty — his  figure  tall,  yet  bending — his  face  mild, 
pale,  yet  highly  intellectual  —  and  over  his  forehead,  which 
vet  displayed  its  blue  veins,  were  scattered,  at  solitary  dis- 
tances, a  few  gray  hairs.  Though  his  voice  was  clear,  and 
his  action  vigorous,  yet  there  was  that  in  his  looks  which 
seemed  to  say  that  his  pilgrimage  was  soon  to  close. 

With  pious  fervour  he  described  to  his  audience  the  glory, 
power,  and  beneficence  of  the  Creator  of  the  universe.  He 
told  them  of  the  pure  delights  of  the  Christian  heaven,  and  of 
the  never-ending  tortures  of  those  who  rejected  the  precepts  of 
the  gospel.  He  painted,  in  glowing  and  fervid  colours,  the 
filial  piety,  the  patience,  the  sufferings  of  the  Redeemer,  and 
how  he  died  on  the  cross  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  human 
race ;  and,  finally,  he  touched  with  energetic  brevity  on  the 
unbounded  mercies  of  the  Great  Being  who  thus  gave  his  only- 
begotten  Son  a  sacrifice  for  the  redemption  of  mankind. 

When  he  had  concluded  this  part  of  the  subject,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  place  before  his  now  attentive  auditors  the  advan- 
tages of  civilization,  of  learning,  science,  and  a  regular  system 

0* 


102  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

of  laws  and  morality.  He  contrasted  the  wild  Indian,  roaming 
the  desert  in  savage  independence — now  revelling  in  the  blood 
of  enemies,  and  in  his  turn  the  victim  of  their  insatiable  ven- 
geance— with  the  peaceful  citizen,  enjoying  all  the  comforts  of 
cultivated  life  in  this  happy  land ;  and  only  bounded  in  his 
indulgences  by  those  salutary  restraints  which  contribute  as 
well  to  his  happiness  as  to  that  of  society  at  large.  He  de- 
scribed the  husbandman  enjoying,  in  the  bosom  of  his  family, 
a  peaceful  independence,  undisturbed  by  apprehensions  of  mid- 
night surprise,  plunder,  and  assassination  ;  and  he  finished  by 
a  solemn  appeal  to  Heaven,  that  his  sole  motive  for  coming 
among  them  was  the  love  of  the  Creator  and  of  his  creatures. 

As  the  missionary  closed  his  appeal,  Red  Jacket,  a  Seneca 
chief  of  great  authority,  and  the  most  eloquent  of  all  his 
nation,  rose  and  enforced  the  exhortations  of  the  venerable 
preacher.  He  repeated  his  leading  arguments,  and  with  elo- 
quence truly  astonishing  in  one  hke  him,  pleaded  the  cause  of 
religion  and  humanity.  The  ancient  council  then  deliberated 
for  nearly  two  hours ;  after  which,  the  oldest  man  rose  and 
solemnly  pronounced  the  result  of  their  conference — "  That 
the  Christian  God  was  more  wise,  just,  beneficent,  and  power- 
ful than  the  Great  Spirit;  and  that  the  missionary  who  delivered 
his  precepts,  ought  to  be  cherished  as  their  best  benefactor — 
their  guide  to  future  happiness." 

When  this  decision  was  pronounced  by  the  venerable  old 
man,  and  acquiesced  in  by  the  people,  the  rage  of  the  Prophet 
of  the  Alleghany  became  terrible.  He  started  from  the  ground, 
seized  his  tomahawk,  and  denouncing  the  speedy  vengeance 
of  the  Great  Spirit  on  their  whole  recreant  race,  darted  from 
the  circle  with  wild  impetuosity,  and  disappeared  in  tho  sha- 
dows of  the  forest. 


AN    IMPRESSIVE    PREACHER.  103 


AN  IMPRESSIVE  PREACHER. 

A  MINISTER,  a  few  years  since,  made  the  following  striking 
statement : — 

When  I  was  travelling  in  the  state  of  Massachusetts,  twenty- 
six  years  ago,  after  preaching,  one  evening,  a  very  serious- 
looking  young  man  arose,  and  wished  to  address  the  assembly. 
After  obtaining  leave,  he  spoke  as  follows  :  "  My  friends,  about 
one  year  ago,  I  set  out  in  company  with  a  young  man,  an 
intimate  acquaintance,  to  seek  the  salvation  of  my  soul.  For 
several  weeks  we  went  on  together,  we  laboured  together,  and 
often  renewed  our  engagements  never  to  give  over  seeking  till 
we  obtained  the  religion  of  Jesus.  But  all  at  once  the  young 
man  neglected  to  attend  public  worship,  appeared  to  turn  his 
back  on  all  the  means  of  grace,  and  grew  so  shy  of  me  that  I 
could  scarcely  get  an  opportunity  of  speaking  with  him.  His 
strange  conduct  gave  me  much  anxiety ;  but  still  I  felt  resolved 
to  seek  the  salvation  of  my  soul,  or  perish  making  the  publi- 
can's plea. 

"  After  a  few  days,  a  friend  informed  me  that  my  companion 
had  received  an  invitation  to  attend  a  ball,  and  was  determined 
to  go.  I  went  immediately  to  him,  and,  with  tears  in  my  eyes, 
endeavoured  to  persuade  him  to  change  his  purpose,  and  to  go 
with  me,  on  that  evening,  to  a  prayer  meeting.  I  pleaded  with 
him  in  vain.  He  told  me,  when  we  parted,  that  I  must  not 
give  him  up  as  lost,  for  after  he  had  attended  that  ball,  he 
intended  to  make  a  business  of  seeking  religioiji.  The  appointed 
evening  came ;  he  went  to  the  ball,  and  I  went  to  the  prayer- 
meeting.  Soon  after  the  meeting  opened,  it  pleased  God,  in 
answer  to  prayer,  to  turn  my  spiritual  captivity,  and  make  my 
soul  rejoice  in  his  love.  Soon  after  the  ball  opened,  my  young 
friend  was  standing  at  the  head  of  the  ball-room,  with  the  hand 
of  a  young  l^dy  in  his  hand,  preparing  to  lead  down  the  dance  ; 


104  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

and  while  the  musician  was  tuning  his  violin,  without  one 
moment's  warning,  the  young  man  fell  backwards  dead  on  the 
floor.  I  was  immediately  sent  for  to  convey  his  remains  to  his 
father's  house.  You  will  be  better  able  to  judge  what  were 
my  emotions,  when  I  tell  you  that  that  young  man  was  my 
own  brother." 


REV.  DR.  PAYSON. 


Dr.  Payson,  of  Portland,  Maine,  always  seized  upon  every 
uncommon  occurrence,  in  his  congregation,  to  turn  it  to  reli- 
gious account.  So  settled  a  habit  was  this  with  him,  that  when- 
ever, during  the  week,  any  extraordinary  event  happened, 
there  was  frequently  a  considerable  degree  of  interest  felt 
among  his  people,  in  respect  to  the  manner  in  which  it  would 
be  made  to  tell,  in  the  production  of  moral  and  religious  im- 
pression, in  their  pastor's  sermon  on  the  next  Sabbath. 

Dr.  Payson's  meeting-house  vi^as  situated  at  the  corner 
formed  by  one  of  the  principal  streets  in  the  city  and  anothej 
narrow  street,  or  perhaps  lane,  which  opened  into  it.  Across 
this  narrow  street,  opposite  the  meeting-house,  a  convenient 
and  pleasant  conference-room,  or  vestry,  as  it  was  sometimes 
called,  had  been  erected.  His  people  had  become  warmly 
attached  to  this  building ;  a  fact  which  all  who  ever  attended 
Dr.  Payson's  evening  meetings,  will  readily  understand.  One 
night,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  were  aroused  by  the  cry  of 
fire ;  and,  on  going  out,  they  found  the  whole  heavens  in  a 
glare,  from  the  flames  of  this  conference-room.  It  was  built 
of  wood ;  and  the  next  morning  nothing  was  left  but  a  heap 
of  black  smoking  rubbish,  and  the  whole  side  of  the  meeting- 
house, opposite,  was  browned  by  the  scorching  heat  of  the 
flames. 

The  next  Sabbath  there  was  the  most  intense  interest  felt, 


REV.    DR.    PAYSON.  105 

by  all  in  the  meeting-house,  when  he  arose  in  the  pulpit,  and 
stood  prepared  to  name  his  text.  The  whole  congregation 
seemed  to  say,  by  the  eager  and  inquiring  expression  of  their 
countenances,  "  What  have  you  to  say  to  us  about  this  cala- 
mity ?"  And  he  pronounced  his  text  as  if  replying:  "  For  the 
time  is  come  that  judgment  must  begin  at  the  house  of  God , 
and  if  it  first  begin  at  us,  what  shall  the  end  be  of  them  who 
obey  not  the  gospel  of  God."  1  Pet.  iv.  17.  Then  followed 
one  of  the  most  eloquent  and  powerful  appeals  ever  heard 
from  his  lips.  He  explained  that  one  mode  by  which  God 
endeavours  to  call  sinners  to  him,  and  to  arouse  his  people  to 
repentance,  is  his  providence.  He  tries  kindness ;  and  when 
that  fail,  he  tries  frowns.  He  enumerated  a  number  of  events 
which  had  occurred,  within  a  few  past  months,  each  more  dis- 
tinct and  decided  than  the  preceding : — "  And  now,"  said  he, 
"  God  has  come  nearer  still."  He  then  spoke  for  several  minutes 
with  great  power  and  effect,  in  regard  to  the  loss  they  had  sus- 
tained, pointing  to  the  blackened  ruins,  which  were  in  full 
view.  "Even  this  sanctuary,"  said  he,  "God  has  but  just 
spared,  and  that,  not  without  leaving  upon  it  the  marks  of  his 
frown."  After  further  remarks  to  his  church  members,  he 
turned  to  the  congregation  generally,  and  warned  them  of  the 
danger  of  resisting  God's  calls.  "  I  am  no  prophet,"  said  he, 
"  and  I  pretend  to  no  extraordinary  knowledge  of  God's  will  ; 
but  here  is  the  solemn  declaration  of  his  word.  Take  care,  then, 
of  your  houses.  Take  care  of  your  stores;  for  if  this  people, 
in  spite  of  God's  repeated  warnings,  will  go  on  obstinately  in 
sin,  they  must  not  be  surprised  if  he  should  arise  in  his  anger 
and  send  a  sweeping  conflagration  to  desolate  the  town." 

The  impression  made  by  the  view  he  took  of  this  providence, 
as  a  solemn  warning  from  God,  was  universal  and  most  pow- 
erful. The  sermon  was  extemporaneous  ;  and  Dr.  Payson,  it 
was  understood,  afterwards  said  that  he  did  not  consider  that 
calamities  were  always  to  be  viewed  as  judgments,  though  they 


106  THE    AMEniCAN    CLERGY. 

ought  to  be  regarded  as  warnings,  intended  to  awaken  us  to 
penitence,  and  to  renewed  fidelity  in  the  service  of  God. 

It  would,  indeed,  be  difficult  to  nicely  discriminate  between 
the  judgments  of  God  and  the  ordinary  dispensations  of  Provi- 
dence ;  but  some  occurrences  are  so  clear,  that  we  must 
exclaim,  "  This  is  the  finger  of  God." 


Dr.  Payson  being  taken  suddenly  ill,  and,  as  every  one 
thought,  about  to  die,  he  remarks :  "  What  gave  me  most 
concern  was,  that  notice  had  been  given  of  my  being  about  to 
])reach  !  Whilst  the  doctor  was  preparing  my  medi-cine,  feeling 
my  pains  abated,  I  on  a  sudden  cried  out,  '  Doctor,  my  pains 
are  suspended ;  by  the  help  of  God,  I  will  go  and  preach,  and 
then  come  home  and  die.'  In  my  own  apprehension,  and  in 
appearance  to  others,  I  was  a  dying  man ; .  the  people  heard 
me  as  such.  The  invisible  realities  of  another  world  lay 
open  to  my  view.  Expecting  to  stretch  into  eternity,  and  to 
be  with  my  Master  before  the  morning,  I  spoke  with  peculiar 
energy.  Such  effects  followed  the  word,  that  I  thought  it  was 
worth  dying  for  a  thousand  times."  His  biographer  says, 
"  He  had  something  so  peculiar  in  his  manner,  expressive  of 
sincerity  in  all  he  delivered,  that  it  constrained  the  most 
abandoned  to  regard  what  he  said  as  not  only  true,  but  of  the 
last  importance  to  souls." 


REV.  E.  T.  TAYLOR. 


The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  Boston  Transcript  of 
a  few  years  since  : 

We  happened  last  Sunday  aflernoon  to  be  at  the  Bethel  in 
North  Square.     The  house  was  running  over  with  seamen, 


REV.    SYLVESTER    LARNED.  107 

who  filled  the  body  of  the  house,  the  stairs  to  the  pulpit,  and 
even  the  pulpit  itself.  We  give  the  following  extract  from  the 
sermon  of  the  afternoon,  as  a  fair  specimen  of  the  style  in 
which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Taylor  makes  a  practical  application  of 
an  important  truth :  "  I  say,  shipmates,  now  look  me  full  in 
the  face.  What  should  we  say  of  the  man  aboard  ship,  who 
was  always  talking  about  his  compass,  and  never  using  it  ? 
What  should  you  think  of  the  man,  who,  when  the  storm  is 
gathering,  night  at  hand,  moon  and  stars  shut,  on  a  lee  shore, 
breakers  ahead,  then  first  begins  to  remember  his  compass,  and 
says,  '  Oh,  what  a  nice  compass  I  have  got  on  board,'  if  before 
that  time  he  has  never  looked  at  it  ?  W^here  is  it  that  you 
keep  your  compass  ?  Do  you  stow  it  away  in  the  hold  ?  Do 
you  clap  it  into  the  forepeak  ?"  By  this  time  Jack's  face,  that 
unerring  index  of  the  soul,  showed  visibly  that  the  reductio  ad 
ahsurdum  had  begun  to  tell.  Then  came,  by  a  natural  logic, 
as  correct  as  that  of  the  school,  the  improvement.  "  Now 
then,  brethren,  listen  to  me.  Believe  not  what  the  scoffer  and 
the  infidel  say.  The  Bible,  the  Bible  is  the  compass  of  life. 
Keep  it  always  at  hand.  Steadily,  steadily  fix  your  eye  on  it. 
Study  your  bearing  by  it.  Make  yourself  acquainted  with  all 
its  points.  It  will  serve  you  in  calm  and  in  storm,  in  the 
brightness  of  noon-day,  and  amid  the  blackness  of  night ;  it 
will  carry  you  over  every  sea,  in  every  clime,  and  navigate 
you,  at  last,  into  the  harbour  of  eternal  rest." 


REV.  SYLVESTER  LARNED. 


When  the  gloom  of  the  pestilence  was  gathering  over  the 
city  of  New  Orleans,  and  multitudes  leaving  with  a  view  to 
escape  it,  the  late  Rev.  Mr.  Larned  entered  his  church  one 
nvening  to  perform  divine  service.     Few  were  present ;  the 


108  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

lamps  untrimmed  and  unlighted;  and  every  thing  indicated  the 
presence  of  sorrow  and  apprehension.  He  assisted  the  sexton 
in  his  duties;  and  finally,  in  the  dim  light  of  the  faintly  illumi- 
nated temple,  the  faces  of  a  few,  who  had  gathered  around  the 
altar,  were  revealed.  It  was  late,  and  as  he  stepped  within 
the  pulpit,  he  exclaimed,  "Watchman,  what  of  the  night?" 
and,  inspired  by  the  solemn  aspect  of  Providence,  and  his 
dread  responsilities  in  such  an  hour,  spoke,  as  with  a  commis- 
sion from  heaven  in  his  hand,  to  that  fixed,  silent  audience; 
and  so  impressed  their  hearts  by  truths,  which  were  the 
treasure  and  life  of  his  own,  as,  amid  all  the  changes  of  time 
and  place  on  earth,  could  never  be  forgotten. 


REV.  DR.  FISK. 


A  STRIKING  instance  of  the  power  of  the  oratory  of  the  late 
Dr.  W.  Fisk,  is  given  in  the  funeral  sermon  preached  for  him 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bangs : — 

While  preaching  on  a  certain  occasion,  in  the  large  church 
in  Forsyth  street.  New  York,  having  finished  the  discussion 
of  his  subject,  he  addressed  himself  directly  to  the  heart  and 
conscience.  He  described  the  danger  of  the  wicked  man;  his 
exposure — his  constant  liability  to  death.  He  followed  him  to 
the  brink  of  death's  dark  precipice,  and  painted  him  plunging 
over  the  edge  into  perdition's  gulf.  The  whole  scene  wms 
vividly  before  the  eye,  A  preacher  below  him,  suddenly  and 
unconsciously,  threw  out  his  arms  to  catch  the  sinner  in  his 
fall,  and  carry  him  in  faith  to  the  Lamb  of  God. 


REV.    DR.    BEDELL.  109 

After  Dr.  Fisk  had  been  once  showing  the  power  of  his 
eloquence,  in  the  chapel  of  the  University  over  which  he  pre- 
sided, a  lady  of  cultivated  mind,  decided  genius,  and  strong 
feeling, — a  stranger  in  the  place, — as  she  came  away,  said  to 
another,  with  a  half-stifled  voice,  "  Have  you  any  irreligious 
students  in  your  college?"  and  on  being  answered  in  the 
affirmative,  added,  "  astonishing !" 


TWO  CLERGYMEN. 


The  villages  of  Gardiner,  Hallo  well,  and  Augusta,  on  the 
Kennebec  river,  lie  near  to  each  other.  Rev.  Mr.  S.  lived  in 
Gardiner.  He  was  visited  by  Rev.  Mr.  N.,  who  preached  in 
Hallowell  and  Augusta,  who  was  allowed  to  look  over  a  sketch 
of  a  sermon  which  Mr.  S.  had  been  writing.  This,  Mr.  N. 
copied,  and  the  next  Sabbath  he  preached  it  at  Augusta.  It  so 
happened  that  Mr.  S.  preached  in  the  same  church  in  Augusta, 
the  Sabbath  after,  and  delivered  the  same  sermon,  not  knowing 
that  another  had  used  it  before  him.  And  what  was  a  little 
amusing  was,  when  he  came  out  of  church,  a  good  lady  said 
to  him — 

"  Mr.  S.,  you  preached  us  a  good  sermon,  but  you  ought  to 
have  given  Mr.  N.  credit  for  it,  as  it  was  the  same  sermon  he 
preached  here  last  Sabbath  !" 


^* 


REV.  DR.  BEDELL. 


One  Sabbath  morning,  while  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Bedell,  of 
Philadelphia,  was  preaching,  a  young  man  passed  by,  with  a 
number  of  companions,  as  gay  and  thoughtless  as  himself    One 

10 


110  THE    AMERICAN    CLEKGY. 

of  them  proposed  going  into  the  church,  saying,  "  Let  us  go 
and  hear  what  this  man  has  to  say,  that  everybody  is  running 
after."  The  young  man  made  this  awful  answer :  "  No,  1 
would  not  go  into  such  a  place  if  Christ  himself  was  preach- 
ing." Some  weeks  after,  he  was  again  passing  the  church ; 
and,  being  alone,  and  having  nothing  to  do,  he  thought  he 
would  go  in  without  being  observed.  On  opening  the  door,  he 
was  struck  with  awe  at  the  solemn  silence  of  the  place,  though 
it  was  much  crowded.  Every  eye  was  fixed  on  the  preacher 
who  was  just  about  to  begin  his  discourse.  His  attention  was 
instantly  caught  by  the  text;  "I  discerned  among  the  youths 
a  young  man  void  of  understanding."  Prov.  vii.  7.  His  con- 
science was  smitten  by  the  power  of  truth.  He  saw  that  he 
was  the  young  man  described.  A  view  of  his  profligate  life 
passed  before  his  eyes,  and,  for  the  first  time,  he  trembled 
under  the  feeling  of  sin.  He  remained  in  the  church  till  the 
preacher  and  congregation  had  passed  out ;  then  slowly  re- 
turned to  his  home.  He  had  early  imbibed  infidel  principles ; 
but  the  Holy  Spirit,  who  had  aroused  him  in  his  folly,  led  him 
to  a  constant  attendance  on  the  ministry  of  Dr.  B.,  who  had 
been  the  instrument  of  awakening  his  mind.  He  cast  away 
his  besetting  sin,  and  gave  himself  to  a  life  of  virtue  and  holi- 
ness. He  afterwards  declared  openly  his  faith  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  and  his  desire  to  devote  himself  to  his  service. 


In  a  sermon,  delivered  a  few  years  since,  Dr.  Bedell  said,  "  I 
have  now  been  nearly  twenty  years  in  the  ministry  of  the 
gospel,  and  I  here  publicly  state  to  you,  that  I  do  not  believe  I 
could  enumerate  three  persons,  over  fifty  years  of  age,  whom 
I  have  ever  heard  ask  the  solemn  and  eternally  momentous 
question,  *  What  shall  I  do  to  be  saved  V  " 


REV.    T.    HOOKER.  Hi 

REV.  DR.  MILLER. 

The  late  Rev.  Dr.  Miller,  Professor  of  Theology,  in  a  ser- 
mon delivered  at  Baltimore,  in  1820,  related  a  fact  which  ought 
not  to  be  forgotten  by  those  who  think  lightly  of  the  errors  of 
Unitarianism.  The  preacher  stated  that  Dr.  Priestley,  two  or 
three  years  before  his  death,  said  to  him,  "  I  do  not  wonder 
that  you  Calvinists  entertain  and  express  a  strongly  unfavoura- 
ble opinion  of  us  Unitarians.  The  truth  is,  there  neither  can, 
nor  ought  to  be,  any  compromise  between  us.  If  you  are 
right,  tve  are  not  Christians  at  all ;  and  if  we  are  right,  you 
are  gross  idolaters." 


REV.  T.  HOOKER. 


The  Rev.  Thomas  Hooker,  having  paid  a  visit  to  Cambridge, 
Massachusetts,  was  invited  to  preach  on  the  Sabbath  afternoon, 
ind  Governor  Winthrop  went  from  Boston  purposely  to  hear 
.lim.  Having  read  his  text,  he  proceeded  with  great  fluency 
for  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  when  he  suddenly  found  hirn- 
«!elf  at  a  loss  for  something  to  say.  After  several  ineffectual 
ittempts  to  proceed,  he  candidly  confessed  his  difficulty,  and, 
(•equesting  the  congregation  to  sing  a  psalm,  withdrew  for  half 
m  hour.  He  then  returned,  and  preached  for  about  two  hours, 
with  propriety  and  vivacity.  After  the  sermon,  he  said  tn  some 
':i{  his  friends,  *'  We  daily  confess  that  we  can  do  nothing 
without  Christ ;  and  what  if  Christ  should  prove  this  to  be  the 
fact  before  the  whole  congregation !" 


112  THE    AMERICA^-    CLERGY. 


A  FORCIBLE  PREACHER. 


The  Western  Review,  a  few  years  since,  stated  the  following 
fact : — 

A  clergyman  was  preaching  in  a  town  which  was  much  in- 
fested with  the  Universalist  heresy  ;  where  a  preacher,  holding 
its  doctrines,  was  present  to  "withstand  the  truth,"  became 
greatly  enraged.  The  sermon  was  no  sooner  closed,  than  he 
began  to  challenge  the  preacher  to  a  defence  of  his  doctrines. 
As  it  was  rather  late,  the  clergyman  who  had  been  preaching 
declined  a  formal  debate,  but  proposed  that  each  should  ask 
the  other  three  questions,  to  which  a  direct  answer  should  be 
returned.  This  was  agreed  to.  The  Universalist  began — put 
his  questions,  and  they  were  promptly  answered.  It  then 
came  to  the  clergyman's  turn.  His  first  question  was,  "  Do 
you  pray  in  your  family  ?"  Thunderstruck  and  dismayed,  the 
preacher  of  smooth  things  knew  not  what  to  say.  At  length 
he  asked,  "  Why,  what  has  that  to  do  with  the  truth  of  my 
doctrine?"  "  Much,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  by  their  fruits  ye  shall 
know  them."  At  last,  he  frankly  confessed  that  he  did  not. 
Then  for  the  second  question :  "  When  you  get  somewhat  dis- 
pleased, do  you  not  sometimes  make  use  of  profane  language?" 
This  was  carrying  the  war  into  the  inner  temple  of  his  infidel 
abominations.  There  was  no  door  of  escape.  Answer  he 
must.  It  was  of  no  use  to  deny  it.  He  confessed  he  was  pro- 
fane. "  I  will  go  no  farther,"  said  the  pious  clergyman ;  "  I 
am  satisfied" — and  turning  to  the  congregation,  added,  "  I 
presume  you  are  also.  You  /dare  not  trust  your  immortal  wel- 
fare to  a  prayerless  and  profane  guide." 

Here  was  a  practical  argument.  Every  one  saw  and  felt 
its  force.  A  dozen  lectures  on  the  subject  would  not  have  done 
half  so  much  good. 


REV.    DR.    STAUGHTON.  113 


REV.  DR.  STAUGHTON. 


The  Rev.  Dr.  Staughton,  of  Philadelphia,  was  remarkable 
for  the  energy  of  his  delivery,  and  for  the  originality  of  many 
of  his  remarks.  On  one  occasion,  he  was  preaching  from  the 
words,  "God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner."  His  soul  kindled, 
as  he  proceeded,  with  intense  ardour  for  the  salvation  of  his 
hearers.  He  presented,  in  a  strain  of  vivid  and  powerful 
eloquence,  the  joy  of  the  angelic  hosts  on  the  repentance  of 
one  sinner.  Perfect  silence  reigned  through  the  vast  audience. 
There  was  a  moment's  pause,  and  it  was  obvious,  from  his 
countenance  and  his  attitude,  that  his  mind  was  preparing  for 
some  powerfnl  and  overwhelming  flood  of  feeling.  He  pro- 
ceeded :  "  Shall  I  retire  with  the  desponding  reflection,  that, 
in  all  this  congregation,  there  is  not  one  soul  humbled  before 
God?  Shall  angels  prepare  their  wings  for  flight,  and  the 
voice  of  contrition  be  unheard?  It  cannot  be.  I  will  cherish 
the  hope  that  there  is,  at  least,  one  sinner  here,  whose  heart  is 
melted  down  before  the  Lord,  and  trembling  at  the  prospect  of 
future  retribution:  that  there  is,  even  now,  one  whose  agony 
is  on  the  point  of  extorting  from  his  lips  the  cry  of  the  publi- 
can." Suddenly  throwing  up  his  arm,  with  a  voice  full,  loud, 
and  rapid,  he  exclaimed,  "Hark !"  The  efl^ect  it  is  impossible 
to  describe.  His  arm  remained  for  a  time  elevated,  during 
which  the  most  awful  stillness  reigned,  interupted  only  by  an 
apparently  delicate  and  indescribable  breathing,  that  seemed  to 
pass  over  the  congregation,  midway  in  the  edifice.  Then, 
with  a  grace  and  energy  peculiar  to  himself,  he  brought  down 
his  hand  upon  his  breast,  and  repeated  the  prayer,  "  God  be 
merciful  to  me  a  sinner."  The  feelings  of  the  assembly  were 
wrought  to  the  highest  point,  and  some  time  elapsed  before  they 

were  enabled  to  breathe  freely. 

10* 


114  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

On  one  Sabbath  evening,  the  worthy  Doctor  discoursed  to 
his  congregation  from  the  words  of  John  the  Baptist,  in  the 
third  of  Matthew,  "  He  shall  gather  the  wheat  into  his  garner, 
but  shall  burn  up  the  chaff  with  unquenchable  fire,"  and  was, 
of  course  led  to  describe  the  torments  of  hell.  The  thunder 
<if  his  eloquence  rolled,  and  its  lightnings  flashed  in  every  di- 
rection. Indulging  his  imagination,  he  exclaimed,  "  Yonder 
you  see  a  miserable  group,  who,  while  on  earth,  were  compa- 
nions in  swearing  and  Sabbath-breaking;  in  another  direction 
you  behold  a  wretched  young  man  who  was  disobedient  to  his 
parents" — at  this  moment  turning  his  eye  to  the  left  hand  of 
his  vast  church,  he  discovered  a  pew  full  of  ladies  laughing  at 
some  trivial  incident  connected  with  themselves,  and  on  them 
he  fixed  his  full  gaze,  as  he  closed  his  powerful  paragraph  with 
the  words,  "and  here  is  a  party  that  went  to  church  to  laugh." 
He  proceeded  in  his  sermon  without  any  further  remark  on  the 
impropriety,  and  it  scarcely  need  to  be  added  that  the  reproof 
had  the  desired  effect. 


f 
Another  beautiful  illustration  of  the  character  and  power  of 

this  admirable  preacher's  eloquence,  may  here  be  given.  The 
following  address  formed  the  close  of  a  sermon  before  a  chari- 
table association  : — 

What  more  shall  I  add,  my  brethren,  to  excite  your  liberali- 
ty? Could  I  take  you  severally  into  the  mansion  of  misery  in 
our  city,  and  show  you  the  pallet  where  the  child  of  want  and 
distress  is  lying,  whose  former  condition  of  life  makes  the 
idea  of  an  alms-house  afTiicting,  and  whose  distresses  are  cheered 
only  by  the  hopes  that  spring  will  bring  better  days,  and  that 
Christian  bosoms  are  not  dead  to  sympathy; — could  I  place 
before  your  eyes  the  shivering  infant,  the  starving  grandsire, 
the  poor  widow,  forsaken,  neglected,  forgotten,  or   even    the 


KEV.    DR.    IIUMPHF.EY.  115 

repenting,  tattered  profligate,  I  know  you  would  melt :  in  spite 
of  all  the  apologies  self-love  nnight  suggest,  your  charity  would 
abound. 

Two  boats,  some  time  ago,  were  sent  from  Dover  to  relieve 
a  vessel  in  distress.  The  fury  of  the  tempest  overset  one  of 
them,  which  contained  three  sailors,  and  a  companion  sunk. 
The  two  remaining  sailors  were  floating  on  the  deep ;  to  one 
of  them  a  rope  was  thrown ;  but  he  refused  it,  crying  out, 
'■'■Fling it  to  Tom:  he  is  just  ready  to  go  down  ;  I  can  last  some 
time  longer."  They  did  so  ;  Tom  was  drawn  into  the  boat. 
The  rope  was  then  flung  to  the  generous  tar,  just  in  time  to 
save  him  from  drowning.  Look  on  the  boisterous  sea  of  this 
world.  You  have  your  conflicts,  we  acknowledge,  but  there 
are  some  that  cannot  last  like  you.  Throw  out  immediately 
to  their  assistance,  or  it  may  be  too  late.  Accomplish  now, 
what  I  persuade  myself  you  thought  of  yesterday,  during  the 
cold  and  heavy  snow-storm.  Come,  my  brethren,  discharge 
your  duty,  adorn  the  gospel,  disappoint  the  devil,  and  revere  a 
present  God. 


REV.  DR.  HUMPHREY. 


^  In  the  biography  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Nettleton,  we  are 
furnished  with  a  very  pleasing  account  of  a  sermon  preached 
by  Dr.  Humphrey,  when  pastor  of  the  church  at  Pittsfield.  It 
appears  that  in  1820,  a  promising  state  of  things  existed  there. 
Dr.  Nettleton  was  present,  and  it  was  resolved  to  devote  the 
day  of  the  declaration  of  Independence  to  religious  services. 
To  this  arrangement  many  ungodly  persons  in  the  neighbour- 
hood objected,  and  while  the  people  were  assembling  and 
crowding  the  church,  the  rioters  exploded  crackers,  and  in 
other  ways  sought  to  annoy  them. 

The  service  having  commenced,  and  having  proceeded  with 


116  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

great  solemnity,  Dr.  H.  read  as  his  text,  John  viii.  36,  "  If  the 
Son,  therefore,  shall  make  you  free,  ye  shall  be  free  indeed." 
He  had  not  proceeded  far,  when  the  word  "  fire"  was  given, 
and  their  ears  were  suddenly  stunned,  and  the  congregation 
startled,  by  the  report  of  cannon.  It  was  the  attack  of  the 
adversary,  and  it  was  well  kept  up.  But,  unfortunately  for 
him  and  his  agents,  every  shot  preached  louder  than  ten 
thousand  thunders ;  for  while  the  drums  beat,  and  the  fifes 
played,  and  the  soldiers  marched  backward  and  forward, 
animated  by  the  noise  of  the  cannon,  and  anticipating  a 
glorious  triumph  over  the  cause  of  God,  they  were  labouring 
hard  to  defeat  themselves.  So  skilfully  did  the  preacher  allude 
to,  and  apply  his  discourse  to  the  conduct  of  the  opposition  out 
of  doors ;  such  advantage  did  he  take  of  every  blast  of  the 
cannon,  and  every  play  of  the  drum,  by  some  well-pointed 
remark,  that  it  all  went,  like  a  two-edged  sword,  to  the  hearts 
of  listening  sinners.  Nothing  could  possibly  have  subserved 
more  the  object  of  his  discourse.  A  few  persons  trembled  for 
the  result,  but  Dr.  Nettleton  and  others  were  more  than  hope- 
ful, and  they  were  right.  That  evening  service  crowded  the 
place  more  than  ever  before — a  most  powerful  impulse  was 
given  to  the  revival,  and  from  that  time  Emmanuel  spread  his 
trophies  among  great  and  small.  They  who  thought  to  crush  ^ 
the  work  of  God  were  bitterly  disappointed,  and  retired  with  * 
shame ;  and  one  hundred  and  forty  converts  declared  them- 
selves  on  the  Lord's  side. 


A  FAITHFUL  MINISTER. 


A  MINISTER,  in  travelling  to  fulfil  an  appointment  for 
preaching,  stopped  on  the  way  to  deliver  a  sermon  to  a  church 
that  was  without  a  pastor.     In  his  discourse  he  animadverted 


REV.    W.    TENNENT.  117 

with  some  severity  on  the  disgraceful  practice  of  intemperance, 
especially  among  professors  of  religion.  On  visiting  the  same 
place  some  time  afterwards,  he  was  told  that  he  had  hurt  the-, 
feelings  of  some  of  the  brethren;  and  in  a  second  discourse  he 
apologized  to  this  effect : — "  I  understand,  my  brethren,  that, 
when  I  was  last  here,  I  was  so  unfortunate  as  to  hurt  the  feel- 
ings of  some  of  you  by  remarks  upon  drunkenness.  Since 
nothing  was  further  from  my  intention,  I  feel  it  my  duty  to 
make  an  apology,  which  is  this : — Being  a  stranger  here,  I 
most  solemnly  declare  that  I  did  not  know  that  there  was  a 
drunkard  beloncrino;  to  the  church."  The  hint  had  its  effect. 
The  grumblers  were  drunkards,  and  at  the  next  church 
meeting  were  excluded. 


REV.  W.  TENNENT. 


This  eminent  minister,  who,  in  the  last  century,  was  dis- 
tinguished for  great  usefulness,  was  one  day  passing  through 
a  town  in  the  state  of  New  Jersey,  in  which  he  had  never 
preached,  and  stopping  at  a  friend's  house  to  dine,  was  in- 
formed that  it  was  a  day  of  fastmg  and  prayer  m  the  congre- 
gation, on  account  of  a  very  remarkable  and  severe  drought; 
which  threatened  the  most  dangerons  consequences  to  the 
fruits  of  the  earth.  His  friend  had  just  returned  from  church, 
and  the  intermission  was  but  half  an  hour.  Mr.  Tcnnent  was 
requested  to  preach,  and  consented,  after  great  hesitation,  as 
he  wished  to  proceed  on  his  journey. 

At  church  the  people  were  surprised  to  see  a  preacher, 
wholly  unknown  to  them,  and  entirely  unexpected,  ascend  the 
pulpit.  His  whole  appearance,  in  his  travelling-dress,  covered 
with  dust,  and  exhibiting  a  long  and  meagre  visage,  engaged 
their  attention,  and  excited  their  curiosity.     On  his  rising  up, 


118  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

instead  of  beginning  to  pray,  as  was  the  usual  practice,  he 
looked  around  the  congregation  with  a  piercing  eye  and 
earnest  attention  ;  and  after  a  minute's  profound  silence,  he 
addressed  them,  with  great  solemnity,  in  the  following  words: 
"  My  beloved  brethren,  I  am  told  that  you  have  come  here  to- 
day to  fast  and  pray ;  a  very  good  work  indeed,  provided  you 
have  come  with  a  sincere  desire  to  glorify  God  ;  but  if  your 
design  is  merely  to  comply  with  a  customary  practice,  or  with 
the  wish  of  your  church  officers,  you  are  guilty  of  the  greatest 
folly  imaginable ;  as  you  had  better  have  stayed  at  home,  and 
earned  your  three  shillings  and  sixpence."  (At  that  time  this 
was  the  stated  price  of  a  day's  labour.)  "  But  if  your  minds 
are  indeed  impressed  with  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion,  and 
you  are  really  desirous  of  humbling  yourselves  before  Al- 
mighty God,  your  heavenly  Father,  come,  join  with  me,  and 
let  us  pray. 

This  had  an  effect  so  uncommon  and  extraordinary  on  the 
congregation,  that  the  utmost  seriousness  was  manifested. 
The  prayer  and  the  sermon  added  greatly  to  the  impressions 
already  made,  and  tended  to  rouse  the  attention,  influence  the 
mind,  command  the  affections,  and  increase  the  emotion  which 
had  been  so  happily  produced.  Many  had  reason  to  bless  God 
for  the  unexpected  visit,  and  to  reckon  the  day  one  of  the 
happiest  of  their  lives. 


During  the  great  revival  of  religion  in  America,  which  took 
place  under  Mr.  Whitefield,  and  others  distinguished  for  their 
piety  and  zeal  at  that  period,  Mr.  Tennent  was  laboriously 
active,  and  much  engaged  to  help  forward  the  work  ;  in  the 
performance  of  which  he  met  with  strong  and  powerful  tempta- 
tions.    The  following  is  from  his  own  lips : — 

On  the  evening  preceding  public  worship,  he  selected  a  sub- 


REV.    W.    TENNENT.  HQ 

ject  for  the  discourse  intended  to  be  delivered,  and  made  some 
progress  in  his  preparations.     In  the  morning  he  resumed  the 
same  subject,  with  an  intention  to  extend  his  thoughts  further 
on  it ;  but  was  presently  assaulted  with  a  temptation  that  the 
Bible  was  not  of  Divine  authority,  but  the  invention  of  man.  He 
instantly  endeavoured  to  repel  the  temptation  by  prayer,  but  his 
endeavours  proved  unavailing.     The  temptation  continued,  and 
fastened  upon  him  with  greater  strength  as  the  time  advanced 
for  public  service.     He  lost  all  the  thoughts  which  he  had  pre- 
pared on  the  preceding  evening.     He  tried  other  subjects,  but 
could  get  nothing  for  the  people.     The  whole  book  of  God, 
under  that  distressing  state  of  mind,  was  a  sealed  book  to  him  ; 
and,  to  add  to  his  affliction,  he  was  "  shut  up  in  prayer ;"  a 
cloud,  dark  as  that  of  Egypt,  oppressed  his  mind. 

Thus  agonized  in  spirit,  he  proceeded  to  the  house  of  God, 
where  he  found  a  large  congregation  assembled,  and  waiting 
to  hear  the  word  ;  and  then  he  was  more  deeply  distressed  than 
ever ;  and  especially  for  the  dishonour  which  he  feared  would 
fall  upon  religion,  through  him,  that  day.     He  resolved,  how- 
ever, to  attempt  the  service.     He  introduced  it  by  singing  a 
psalm,  during  which  time  his  agitation  increased  to  the  highest 
degree.     When  the  moment  for  prayer  commenced,  he  arose, 
as  one  in  the  most  painful  and  perilous  situation,  and  with  arms 
extended  to  heaven,  began  with  this  exclamation,  "  Lord,  have 
mercy  upon  me."     On  the  utterance  of  this  petition,  he  was 
heard  ;  the  thick  cloud  instantly  broke  away,  and  light  shone 
upon  his  soul.     The  result  was  a  deep  solemnity  throughout 
tl^e  congregation  ;  and  the  house,  at  the  end  of  the  prayer,  was 
a  place  of  weeping.     He  delivered  the  subject  of  his  evening 
meditations,  which  was  brought  to  his  full  remembrance,  with 
an  overflowing  abundance  of  other  weighty  and  solemn  matter. 
The  Lord  blessed  this  discourse,  so  that  it  proved  the  happy 
means  of  the  conversion  of  about  thirty  persons.     This  day 
he  ever  afterwards  spoke  of  as  "  his  harvest  day." 


120  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

At  another  time,  Mr.  Tennent  took  great  pains  to  prepare  9 
sermon  to  convince  a  celebrated  infidel  of  the  truth  of  Christi- 
tianity.  But,  in  attempting  to  deliver  this  laboured  discourse, 
he  was  so  confused  as  to  be  compelled  to  stop,  and  to  close  the 
service  by  prayer.  This  unexpected  failure,  in  one  who  had 
so  often  astonished  the  unbeliever  with  the  force  of  his  elo- 
quence, led  the  infidel  to  reflect  that  Mr.  Tennent  had  been,  at 
other  times,  aided  by  a  divine  power.  This  reflection  proved 
the  means  of  his  conversion.  Thus  God  accomplished  by  si- 
lence what  his  servant  wished  to  eflect  by  persuasive  preaching. 
Mr.  Tennent  used  afterwards  to  say,  that  his  dumb  sermon 
was  one  of  the  most  profitable  he  ever  delivered. 


Those  who  love  to  become  acquainted  with  the  manners  of 
the  old  men  of  former  generations,  will  read  with  interest  the 
description  given  not  long  since  by  an  old  man  then  living  in 
Monmouth  county,  and  furnished  to  the  Newark  Sentinel. 

Mr.  Tennent's  manners  were  altogether  primitive.  He  had 
three  pegs  behind  the  pulpit ;  and  when  he  entered  it,  he  took 
off*  his  hat,  and  hung  it  on  one  of  them ;  his  wig,  and  hung 
that  on  the  second  ;  and  often  drew  off*  his  coat,  and  hung  that 
on  the  third.  His  sermons  were  pre-eminently  full  "  of  strong 
meat,"  and  were  delivered  with  great  earnestness  and  simpli- 
city. 


REV.  BRADFORD  HOMER. 


We  place  on  record  the  following  remarks  from  a  sermon 
of  the  late  Rev.  Bradford  Homer,  as  they  entirely  meet  the 
sympathy  of  every  minister  of  the  gospel,  and  apply  to  every 
congregation  with  which  we  are  acquainted. 


REV.    B.    HOMEK.  121 

"  I  beseech  you  that  you  be  not  over-scrupulous  about  the 
height  of  the  thermometer,  or  the  aspect  of  the  clouds  on  a 
Sabbath  morning — that  you  doom  not  the  preacher  to  come  in 
from  a  lowering  and  desolate  sky  to  the  more  desolate  scenQ 
of  an  empty  church.  I  mean  not  to  intrude  upon  the  delica- 
cies of  life,  and  I  know  that  there  are  many  constitutions  inal 
v/ill  not  bear  an  exposure  to  the  inclemency  of  the  storm.  I 
leave  every  man's  conscience  to  be  his  bodily  physician.  But 
I  beg  of  you  to  be  consistent  patients;  for  that  admirable  doctor 
is  never  more  stupid  than  under  the  sound  of  the  church-going 
bell ;  and  if  the  fireside  of  home  looks  inviting,  and  the  storm 
beats  cheerlessly  against  the  window — above  all,  if  the  heart 
from  within  does  not  cry  out  for  the  courts  of  the  Lord,  it  is 
easy,  too  easy,  to  get  an  invalid's  exemption  from  one  unscien- 
tific guide,  or  to  conjure  up  some  lion,  in  the  shape  of  a  formi- 
dable snowdrift,  or  a  pelting  rain,  or  a  smoky  house — no  one 
of  which  would  excuse  us  to  a  client  or  a  customer,  but  any 
one  of  them  we  can  put  off  on  our  minister  or  our  God.  Still, 
politeness  forbids  me  to  enter  the  private  circle  and  say  to  this 
and  that  person.  You  ought  to  be  at  church :  as  a  gentleman,  I 
leave  you  to  judge  for  yourselves ;  but,  as  a  minister,  you 
mast  excuse  me  if  I  beg  you  to  remember  the  man  whose  pro- 
fession obliges  him  to  go  to  church  in  all  weathers ;  whose 
taste  will  not  permit  him  to  reward  the  faithful  few  with  an  old 
sermon,  or  a  desultory  talk  inspired  by  empty  pews ;  whose 
sense  of  justice  obliges  him  to  bring  but  the  hard  earnings  of  a 
week's  toil,  when  one  and  another  and  another  for  whom  that 
sermon  was  written,  are  not  in  their  seats.  I  say  I  wish  they 
would  think  of  him  from  the  good  easy-chair,  and  by  the 
blazing  hearth  of  home,  and  cast  on  him  the  wing  of  th^ir 
sympathy,  if  they  cannot  give  him  the  light  of  their  faces." 


11 


122  /   THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY 


REV.  MR.  HOWE. 


It  is  related  of  Rev.  Mr.  Howe,  late  of  Hopkinton,  Massa- 
chusetts, that  during  the  period  his  people  were  discussing  the 
subject  of  a  new  meeting-house,  one  day,  while  he  was  preach- 
ing, observing  his  congregation  in  rather  a  lethargic  state,  he 
stopped  in  the  middle  of  his  sermon,  and,  casting  his  eyes 
around,  remarked  they  were  talking  about  erecting  a  new 
meeting-house ;  but  he  did  not  know  that  it  was  worth  while, 
as  the  timbers  looked  in  pretty  good  condition,  and  ho  was 
sure  the  sleepers  were  sound. 


REV.  DR.  LATHROP. 


The  late  Rev.  Dr.  Lathrop,  of  Springfield,  in  a  sermon  in- 
tended to  show  how  God  often  answers  prayer  in  very  unex- 
pected ways,  related  a  very  striking  illustration  of  his  doctrine 
in  the  case  of  a  negro,  who  had,  by  a  contemplation  of  nature, 
while  in  his  own  country,  been  led  to  conceive  of  the  existence 
of  a  supreme,  wise,  and  good  Being,  who  made  and  governed 
the  world.  He  was  accustomed  to  pray  to  him,  that  he  might 
know  his  character,  and  the  manner  in  which  he  could  be 
pleased.  While  in  this  state  of  mind,  he  was,  with  many 
others,  stolen,  and  his  faith  began  to  waver.  He  was  brought 
into  a  pious  family  in  New  England,  where  he  was  instructed 
in  the  knowledge  of  Christ,  and  became  his  devoted  follower. 
He  used  to  admire  the  kindness  of  God,  who,  in  this  mosi 
remarkable  manner,  answered  his  prayers. 


REV.    DR.    BEECHER.  128 


REV.  DR.  BEECHER. 

The  following  anecdote  of  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher,  when  a 
young  man,  is  related  on  the  authority  of  the  Philadelphia 
North  American.  While,  on  the  one  hand,  it  may  reprove  the 
senior  brother  who  may  be  disposed  to  judge  "  according  to 
the  outward  appearance,"  so,  on  the  other,  it  may  encourage 
the  young  and  timid  to  aim  after  excellence. 

When,  in  the  early  years  of  his  life,  Dr.  Beecher  was  living 
ill  Litchfield,  something  caused  him  to  spend  a  Sunday  in  New 
Haven.  He  was  dressed  in  homely  simplicity,  and  was  diffi- 
dent in  conversation ;  so  that  it  was  no  easy  matter  to  judge 
of  his  quality.  Dr.  Strong  was  then  settled  over  the  Congre- 
gational Church  in  that  city,  and  professional  usage  required 
that  he  should  entertain  Beecher  at  his  house,  and  invite  him 
into  his  pulpit.  He  looked  distrustingly  upon  the  plain  country 
pa^or,  and  lamented  the  terrible  necessity.  But  there  was  no 
alternative  but  in  the  violation  of  courtesy.  Beecher  sat 
meekly  in  the  pulpit,  through  the  morning  and  afternoon,  but 
was  not  asked  to  take  any  part  in  the  services.  In  the  even- 
ing, Dr.  Strong  intimated  to  him  very  coldly,  that  if  he  chose 
to  do  so,  he  could  preach  for  him,  and  was  shocked  by  his 
instant  acquiescence.  "A  man  who  will  accept  an  invitation 
tendered  in  such  a  way  as  this,"  thought  Strong,  "cannot 
preach  a  sermon  fit  for  my  congregation  to  listen  to  !"  He 
was  mistaken,  however.  Beecher  had  hardly  less  pride  than 
genius,  and  he  felt  keenly  the  chilling  coldness  of  the  great 
man,  as  Dr.  Strong  was  considered.  The  evening  came  on  ; 
the  church  was  brilliantly  lighted,  and  thronged  with  the 
beauty,  fashion,  and  intelligence  of  that  home  of  gentleness 
and  learning.  Dr.  Strong  had  offered  the  opening  prayer,  and 
was  sitting  in  stern  ill-humour,  while  the  choir  were  singing 
vlie  liymn  to  precede  the  sermon.     Mr.  Beecher  became  rest- 


124  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

less,  and  his  face  was  flushed  wirh  a  sudden  excitement.  He 
turned  to  the  Doctor,  and  inquired,  in  a  low  and  hurried  voice, 
if  the  sermon  could  be  a  few  moments  deferred — he  had  left 
his  manuscript  in  his  chamber.  "  No  !"  said  the  Doctor,  with 
exultant  but  ill-natured  sharpness — and  grasped  the  Bible  to 
select  a  text  for  himself,  glad  that  an  accident  was  to  relieve 
him  and  his  congregation  from  the  mortifying  infliction  he  had 
dreaded.  He  was  too  fast;  his  young  brother  had  been  stung 
to  the  heart  by  his  manner,  and  recognising  the  words  of  the 
last  line  of  the  hymn,  sprang  to  the  desk,  and  ere  Dr.  Strong 
had  recovered  from  his  astonishment,  announced  his  text  foi 
an  extemporaneous  discourse.  "  It  is  the  will  of  God  !"  thought 
the  vexed  and  humbled  pastor,  and  prepared  himself  to  listen 
with  Christian  resignation.  For  a  Cew  moments  the  young 
preacher  spoke  with  slight  hesitation,  as  if,  while  giving  his 
introduction,  he  was  revolving  in  his  mind  an  extended  argu- 
ment. Soon  his  voice  rang  clear  and  loud,  his  sentences  came 
compact  and  earnest^  and  his  manner  caught  the  glowing  fer- 
vour of  his  thought.  All  was  hushed  but  his  impassioned 
tones ;  the  great  assembly  was  still  as  death ;  and  leaning 
forward,  with  blended  wonder  and  admiration,  the  pastor  felt 
stealing  over  him  from  the  hushed  air  the  rebuke  of  his  Mas- 
ter, for  his  harsh  judgment  and  cold  treatment  of  his  young 
brother.  In  after  life,  he  used  to  relate  the  story,  and  confess 
that  he  had  never  heard  such  eloquence  as  that  of  the  home- 
spun young  Mr.  Beecher. 


AN  EFFECTIVE  CLERGYMAN. 

A  CLERGYMAN  in  the  United  States,  concluding  a  sermon  to 
young  persons,  took  occasion  to  impress  upon  parents  the  duty 


REV.    DR.    MEKCER.  125 

of  parental  faith,  and  illustrated  its  power  in  the  following 
manner  : — 

About  two-and-twenty  years  ago,  a  little  circle  were  met 
around  the  couch  of  an  apparently  dying  male  infant;  the  man 
of  God  who  led  their  devotions,  seemed  to  forget  the  sickness 
of  the  child,  in  his  prayer  for  his  future  usefulness.  He  prayed 
for  the  child,  as  a  man,  a  Christian,  and  a  minister  of  the  word. 
The  parents  took  hold  of  the  horns  of  the  altar,  and  prayed 
with  him.  The  child  recovered,  grew  towards  manhood,  and 
ran  far  in  the  ways  of  folly  and  sin.  One  after  another  of  that 
little  circle  ascended  to  heaven ;  but  two,  at  least,  and  one  of 
them  the  mother,  lived  to  hear  him  proclaim  the  everlasting 
gospel.  "  It  is,"  said  the  preacher,  "  no  fiction ;  that  child, 
that  prodigal  youth,  that  preacher,  is  he  who  now  addresses 
you." 


REV.  DR.  MERCER. 


Few  men  could  produce  more  effect  in  makmg  a  solemn 
appeal  to  the  consciences  of  his  hearers  than  Dr.  Mercer.  He 
once  preached  from  the  language  of  the  apostle,  "  If  any  man 
love  not  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  let  him  be  anathema  marana- 
tha  "  when  one  of  the  most  distinguished  men  in  the  country 
was'  present,  and  was  deeply  impressed  with  the  discourse. 
On  coming  away,  he  said,  "  I  could  feel  the  very  curse  of  God 
running  through  my  bones." 


This  excellent  man  had  once  spent  a  fortnight  in  a  preachmg 
tour,  chiefly  labouring  in  a  district  favoured  with  an  extensive 
revival  of  religion.  On  his  return  he  met  his  church  at  their 
regular  meeting.     He  was  aware  that  the  church  was  in  a  very 


126  Tiii:  AriiiKicAN  clekgy. 

languid  state,  and  liis  sermon  was  on  the  deceitfulness  of  the 
heart,  in  crying  peace,  peace,  when  there  is  no  peace.  At  the 
close  of  his  discourse  he  became  deeply  affected,  and  addressed 
his  congregation  thus : — "  Dear  brethren  and  friends,  I  have 
been  a  great  part  of  the  last  two  weeks,  addressing  a  people 
that  I  believe  are  truly  awakened  to  a  sense  of  their  lost, 
helpless  and  ruined  state,  and  are  crying  out  in  their  agony, 
'  What  shall  we  do  to  be  saved  V  Amongst  them,  my  tongue 
seemed  to  be  loosed,  and  I  could  point  them  with  great  freedom 
to  the  way  of  salvation  through  a  crucified  Saviour.  On  my 
way  hither,  I  have  felt  the  deepest  concern  in  contrasting  your 
lifeless  situation  with  them,  until  I  even  bedewed  the  pommel 
of  my  saddle  with  tears ;"  and  here,  lifting  up  his  hands,  he 
exclaimed,  "  0,  my  congregation,  I  fear  you  are  too  good  to 
be  saved !"  and  again  burst  into  an  irrepressible  flood  of  tears. 
Descending  from  the  pulpit,  and  recovering  himself  a  little,  he 
poured  forth  a  most  solemn  and  impassioned  exhortation, 
during  which  many  came  forward  and  asked  that  prayer 
might  be  made  in  their  behalf;  and  thus  commenced  one  of 
the  most  interesting  revivals  which  has  ever  blessed  that 
favoured  church. 


This  admirable  preacher  was  once  discoursing  from  He- 
brews vi.  1.  His  main  object  was  to  impress  on  Christians 
the  importance  of  aiming  at  high  attainments,  and  going  on  to 
perfection.  "Unless' we  aim  at  a  high  mark,"  said  he,  "we 
shall  never  attain  to  eminence,  as  we  shall  not  be  likely  to  rise 
higher  than  our  aim.  Some  Christians  are  afraid  to  aim  high. 
Alas,  they  have  not  as  much  courage  as  a  chicken.  As  I  was 
sitting  in  my  piazza  one  pleasant  evening,  last  summer,  my 
attention  was  drawn  to  the  fowls  as  they  were  going  to  their 
rest.  One  little  chicken  particularly  attracted  my  notice.  He 
fixed  his  eye  upon  a  limb  pretty  high  up  a  tree,  and  made  an 


REV.    DR.    MERCEK.  127 

ineffectual  aim  to  gain  it.  He  then  took  another  position,  and 
repeated  his  effort  to  reach  it,  but  was  again  unsuccessful. 
Still,  in  no  wise  discouraged,  he  kept  his  eye  upon  the  limb 
first  chosen,  and  tried,  and  tried,  and  tried  again ;  but  to  no 
purpose.  Six  times  he  tried  and  failed,  but  the  seventh  time 
he  reached  it.  My  brethren,  aim  high, — press  on  to  perfec- 
tion— try  to  have  as  much  courage  and  perseverance  as  that 
little  chicken." 


The  Rev.  President  Manly,  in  describing  Dr.  Mercer,  says  :— 
To  feel  his  greatness  it  was  necessary  to  have  heard  him 
preach  under  happy  circumstances.  At  other  times  he  was 
characterized  by  a  solid  judiciousness  in  all  he  did  or  said, 
sanctified  by  a  simple,  fervent  piety.  But  in  his  happy  seasons 
he  would  rouse  and  enchain  the  attention  of  reflecting  minds 
beyond  any  minister  I  have  ever  heard.  At  such  times,  his 
views  were  vast,  profound,  original,  striking,  absorbing,  in  the 
highest  degree ;  while  his  language,  though  simple,  was  so 
terse  and  pithy,  so  pruned,  consolidated,  and  suited  to  become 
the  vehicle  of  the  dense  mass  of  his  thoughts,  that  it  required 
no  ordinary  effort  of  a  well-trained  mind  to  take  in  all  that  he 
said.  At  a  meeting  of  the  South  Carolina  Baptist  State  Con- 
vention, held  at  Edgefield  C.  H.,  he  preached,  preparatory  to 
communion,  on  Sunday,  and  Dr.  Furman  was  one  of  his 
hearers.  His  text  was,  "  For  if  the  blood  of  bulls  and  of  goats, 
and  the  ashes  of  an  heifer,  sprinkling  the  unclean,  sanctitieth 
to  the  purifying  of  the  flesh  ;  how  much  more  shall  the  blood 
of  Christ,  who,  through  the  eternal  Spirit,  offered  himself 
without  spot  to  God,  purge  your  consciences  from  dead  works 
to  serve  the  living  God."  It  was  one  of  his  happy  times  ;  and 
after  a  few  of  his  honest  shruajs,  and  workino;s  of  his  neck  and 
shoulders,  as  if  to  push  his  huge  frame  into  his  armour,  he  got 
fairly  under  way.      Dr.  Furman  sat  next  to  me  in  the  congrc- 


1^8  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

gation,  and  tliough  much  absorbed  myself,  I  could  not  forbear 
to  notice  that  the  Doctor  (whose  unconscious  and  inordinate 
use  of  snuff,  when  excited  and  engaged,  was  remarkable) 
passed  his  hand  to  his  pocket  with  singular  celerity  and  fre- 
quency. At  length,  as  the  subject  advanced  and  the  interest 
deepened,  the  snuff-box  returned  no  more  to  the  pocket,  but 
remained  open  on  his  knee ;  while  the  thumb  and  finger  plied 
incessantly  and  full-freighted  between  it  and  his  nose.  Father 
Mercer  was  now  reasoning  out,  by  overpowering  argument, 
the  position — that  the  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ  is  necessary  to 
his  atonement ;  and  when  he  announced  the  conclusion,  proved 
and  clear,  the  venerable  Dr.  F.  brought  his  hand  down  vio- 
lently on  his  knee,  exclaiming,  audibly,  ^^WJiat  an  important 
thought  P' 


The  biographer  of  Dr.  M.  has  given  us  another  illustration 
of  his  power  in  the  pulpit,  while  preaching  at  the  Savannah 
River  Association,  in  1824.  His  text  was,  "  The  weakness  of 
God  is  stronger  than  men."  It  was  a  passage  admirably  suited 
to  the  genius  of  the  preacher ;  his  mind  was  at  the  time  re- 
markably free  and  unclouded,  and  his  heart  in  a  very  tender 
and  devout  frame.  He  first  illustrated  what  he  supposed  might 
be  understood  by  the  weakness  of  God  :  this  he  considered  as 
referring  mainly  to  the  precious  Gospel  of  a  crucified  Re- 
deemer. He  next  considered  in  what  the  strength  of  men 
might  be  said  to  consist ;  for,  said  he,  "  the  text  seems  to  im- 
ply that  men  have  some  kind  of  strength  with  which  the  weak- 
ness of  God  is  brought  into  conflict."  He  here  enlarged  in  a 
manner  most  powerful  and  convincing,  upon  the  pride,  igno- 
rance, and  deep-seated  corruption  of  the  human  heart.  He 
then  proceeded  to  show  how,  by  weak  and  insignificant  means, 
the  Lord  thwarted  the  vain  and  proud  designs  of  man,  and 
how,  especially  by  the  application  of  Gospel  truth  by  the  Spirit 


REV.    DR.    MERCER.  129 

ol  God,  the  stubborn  and  rebellious  heart  was  effectually  and 
savingly  subdued.  His  track  was  as  clear  as  the  noon.  His 
simple  and  energetic  language,  his  apt  illustrations,  and  his 
invincible  reasoning,  rendered  every  thing  visible.  The  audi- 
ence felt  that  they  were  in  the  hands  of  a  master-spirit,  or 
rather  in  the  hands  of  a  glorious  and  Almighty  Sovereign, 
whose  power  was  portrayed  with  such  pungent  and  heart- 
searching  strokes ;  and  whilst  their  minds  were  led  captive  by 
the  matchless  argument,  their  feelings  were  evidently  much 
affected  by  the  holy  fervour,  the  tender  and  heavenly  pathos  of 
the  venerable  nreacher. 


A  somewhat  amusing  incident  may  here  be  given,  illustrative 
of  the  power  Dr.  Mercer  had  over  his  hearers.  An  excellent 
Methodist  brother,  who  attended  his  preaching  and  was  very 
fond  of  him,  used  frequently  to  express  his  approbation  by  a 
hearty  amen,  when  any  sentiment  or  expression  pleased  him, 
and  these  were  very  frequent.  Dr.  M.,  in  private,  kindly  ob- 
served that  he  did  not  disapprove  such  expressions,if  they  were 
appropriate  and  well-timed ;  "  but  you  sometimes  manifest  your 
assent  when  the  denunciations  of  God  are  made  against  the 
wicked,"  &c.  This,  for  a  season,  cooled  his  ardour,  and  he 
was  silent,  though  restless.  At  last,  when  some  rich  doctrine 
of  truth  dropped  from  the  preacher's  lips,  he  exclaimed  at  the 
top  of  his  voice,  ^^Avnen  !  rough  at  a  venture  /"  The  effect 
on  the  audience  and  on  the  speaker  may  be  well  conceived. 


130  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

A  NEW  ENGLAND  CLERGYMAN. 

An  excellent,  but  somewhat  eccentric  clergyman,  whose 
field  of  labour  was  in  the  interior  of  New  England,  one  Sun- 
day, at  the  close  of  the  services,  gave  notice  to  his  congrega- 
tion, that  in  the  course  of  the  week  he  expected  to  go  on  a  mis- 
sion to  the  heathen.  The  members  of  his  church  were  struck 
with  alarm  and  sorrow,  at  the  sudden  and  unexpected  loss  of 
their  beloved  pastor,  and  one  of  the  deacons,  in  great  agita- 
tion, exclaimed, — "What  shall  we  do  V  "  Oh,  brother  C ," 

said  the  minister,  with  great  apparent  ease,  "/  donH  expect  to 
go  out  of  town  /" 


REV.  T.  PORTER. 


Ministerial  usefulness,  under  God,  depends  much  on  Chris- 
tian activity.  A  few  years  ago,  three  sailors  just  from  sea 
were  walking  up  Water  Street,  just  above  Arch,  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  where  they  discovered  the  Bethel  Flag  of  the 
Mariner's  church,  and  one  said  to  the  other,  "  What  is  that — 
a  rendezvous  ?"  At  that  moment  a  member  of  the  Female 
Bethel  Flag  Society  passed,  and  hearing  their  conversation,  in- 
vited them  to  go  in.  In  the  usual  carelessness  of  impenitent 
seamen,  they  made  some  trifling  reply ;  but  finally  went  into 
the  place.  The  pastor  of  the  church,  the  Rev.  T.  Porter, 
j^reached  that  evening  from  Gen.  xxxvii.  l6  : — "I  seek  my 
brethren."  In  the  course  of  his  sermon  he  described  himself 
as  a  shipping  master,  and,  having  his  papers,  was  desirous  of 
shipping  a  crew  for  the  good  ship  Zion.  "  Come,  seamen," 
said  he,  "  let  me  register  your  names  ;"  to  which  one  of  the 
men  alluded  to,  said,  with  a  smile,  "You  won't  ship  me."  How- 


REV.    DR.    WELCH.  131 

ever,  before  the  meeting  closed  he  was  weeping  for  his  sins. 
The  impressions  made  on  his  mind  were  such  as  he  had  never 
felt  before,  and  he  left  the  place  blessing  God  that  he  had  been 
thus  led  into  his  house. 


REV.  MR.  RAW  SON. 


More  than  one  hundred  years  ago,  there  graduated  at  Har- 
vard University,  a  clergyman  named  Rawson,  who  subse- 
quently settled  in  the  ministry  at  Yarmouth,  and  Cape  Cod. 
He  used  to  preach  very  pointed  sermons.  Having  heard  that 
some  of  his  parishioners  were  in  the  habit  of  making  him  the 
subject  of  their  mirth  at  a  grog-shop,  he  one  Sabbath  preached 
a  discourse  from  the  text — "And  I  was  the  song  of  the  drunk- 
ard." His  remarks  were  of  a  very  maoing  character ;  so 
much  so,  that  many  of  his  hearers  rose  and  left  the  house  in 
the  midst  of  the  sermon. 

A  short  time  afterwards,  the  preacher  delivered  a  discourse 
still  more  pointed  than  the  first,  from  the  text,  "  And  they.^ 
being  convicted  out  of  their  own  consciences,  went  out  one  by 
one."  On  this  occasion,  no  one  ventured  to  retire  from  the 
assembly ;  but  the  guilty  ones  resigned  themselves,  with  as 
good  grace  as  possible,  to  the  lash  of  their  pastor. 


REV.  DR.  VS^ELCH. 


We  copy  the  following  interesting  narrative  from  the  Albany 
Express,  October,  1847.  It  beautifully  shows  the  advantages 
of  self-possession  in  the  preacher : — 

On  Sunday  evening  last,  a  very  large  audience  attended  tl»e 


132  THE    AMERICA.^    CLERGY. 

North  Pearl  Street  Baptist  Church,  attracted  in  part  by  the 
fame  and  eloquence  of  the  pastor,  Dr.  Welch,  and  partly,  we 
doubt  not,  in  consequence  of  the  announcement  made  from  the 
pulpit  in  the  morning,  that  the  rite  of  marriage  would  be 
solemnized  at  the  close  of  the  service. 

The  theme  of  the  Rev.  Doctor,  was  the  power  and  good- 
ness of  God,  chosen  as  the  basis  for  an  appeal  to  the  Chris- 
tian charities  aad  warm  sympathies  of  his  people,  in  behalf  of 
the  needy  widow  and  children  of  the  late  sexton  of  the  church, 
C.  S.  Morton,  who,  though  a  colored  man,  was  distinguished 
for  his  estimable  Christian  character,  habits  of  industry,  strict 
integrity,  and  intelligence  beyond  the  great  majority  of  his 
class  and  complexion.  The  discourse  was  characterized  by 
all  the  high  and  admired  qualities  which  have  placed  Dr. 
Welch  in  the  front  rank  of  pulpit  orators  and  extemporaneous 
preachers,  and  the  appeal  was  not  made  in  vain.  In  the  midst 
of  one  of  his  happiest  illustrations,  and  with  voice  and  gesture 
admirably  suited  to  the  sentiment,  he  looked  out  upon  the  au- 
dience and  exclaimed — "  The  Spirit  and  the  Bride  sai/y 
Come  !" 

The  wedding  party,  having  been  notified  of  the  time  fixed 
upon  for  the  performance  of  the  nuptial  ceremony,  had  sta- 
tioned themselves  at  the  foot  of  the  stairway,  in  readiness  for 
the  signal,  which  was  to  be  communicated  by  the  sexton.  The 
latter,  when  he  heard  the  exclamation,  "  The  Spirit  and  the 
Bride  say,  Come  !"  and  saw  the  gesture,  verily  believed  the 
time  for  the  marriage  had  arrived,  and  immediately  beckoned 
the  party  to  approach.  They  promptly  obeyed  the  summons, 
and  bride  and  bridegroom,  bride's-maid  and  groom's-man, 
marched  solemnly  up  the  broad  aisle  to  the  pulpit !  The  doc- 
tor was  in  the  midst  of  his  discourse.  The  whole  audience 
saw  the  awkwardness  of  the  occurrence,  many  understood  the 
true  cause  of  the  mistake,  and  all  looked  to  see  the  confusion 
of  the  clergyman,  thus  placed  in  a  painful  predicament.     But 


AN    AGED    CLERGYMAN.  IXi 

in  this  they  were  disappointed.  Closing  the  sentence  thus  cu- 
riously interrupted,  Dr.  Welch  calmly  stepped  down  from  the 
pulpit,  and  almost  before  the  echo  of  his  voice  in  the  utterance 
of  his  discourse  had  died  away,  he  was  heard  addressing  the 
candidates  for  marriage  in  a  manner  most  appropriate  to  the 
occasion,  and  in  the  beautiful  style  and  fervid  eloquence  for 
which  he  is  so  celebrated.  The  ceremony  over,  the  wedding 
party  retired,  and  the  preacher,  as  little  disconcerted  as  if  no- 
thing unusual  had  occurred,  re-ascended  into  the  desk,  and 
taking  up  his  subject  at  the  precise  point  where  he  had  left  it, 
(though  he  uses  no  written  notes,)  proceeded  to  finish  his  ser- 
mon. So  admirably  was  the  awkward  incident  managed,  that 
we  doubt  whether  the  party  occasioning  it  ever  suspected  any 
thing  wrong. 


AN  AGED  CLERGYMAN. 

An  aged  clergyman,  when  preaching  in  New  England,  some 
few  years  since,  raising  his  voice  with  each  succeeding  word, 
and  bringing  down  his  clenched  hand  with  amazing  force  upon 
the  Bible  at  the  last  word  of  the  sentence,  exclaimed—"  A  de- 
ceitful wicked  man  is  not  fit  to  serve  either  God,  man,  or  the 
devil !"  Then,  after  a  pause,  he  added,  "And  I'll  tell  you  why. 
He  is  not  fit  to  serve  God,  because  he's  unholy;  he's  not  fit  to 
serve  man,  because  he's  deceitful ;  and  he's  not  fit  to  serve  the 
devil,  because  he's  not  content  with  his  wages.  No,"  said  the 
old  man,  with  a  shrewd  look,  "  he's  not  content  with  his 
wages.  Why,"  added  he,  "  my  children,  I  once  saw  a  rogue 
of  a  soldier,  for  some  crime  that  he'd  done,  tied  up,  and  flogged 
with  forty  lashes  ;  and  while  he  was  taking  his  wages,  he  made 
all  sorts  of  noises,  but  he  never  once  said  that  he  liked  it.  No, 

12 


134  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

no,  my  friends,  the  sinner  is  not  satisfied  with  the  wages  which 
the  devil  gives,  and  he  never  will  be — '  for  the  wages  of  sin 
is  death.''     Sinners  !  sinners  !  strike  for  higher  wages." 


REV.  JOHN  SUNDAY. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Alder,  in  his  admirable  volume  on  the  Wes- 
leyan  Missions,  relates  the  following  pleasing  anecdote : 

"  I  understand,"  said  John  Sunday,  the  converted  Indian 
chief,  to  a  congregation  which  he  was  called  to  address  at  Ply- 
mouth, in  the  year  1837,  "that  many  of  you  are  disappointed, 
because  I  have  not  brought  my  Indian  dress  with  me.  Per- 
haps, if  I  had  it  on,  you  would  be  afraid  of  me.  Do  you  wish 
to  know  how  I  dressed  when  I  was  a  pagan  Indian  ?  I  will 
tell  you.  My  face  was  covered  with  red  paint.  I  stuck  fea- 
thers in  my  hair.  I  wore  a  blanket  and  leggins.  I  had  silver 
ornaments  on  my  breast,  a  rifle  on  my  shoulder,  a  tomahawk 
and  scalping-knife  in  my  belt.  That  was  my  dress  then. 
Now,  do  you  wish  to  know  why  I  wear  it  no  longer?  You 
will  find  the  cause  in  second  Corinthians,  fifth  chapter  and 
seventeenth  verse  :  '  Therefore,  if  any  man  be  in  Christ,  he  is 
a  new  creature  ;  old  things  are  passed  away  ;  behold,  all  things 
are  become  new.'  When  I  became  a  Christian,  feathers  and 
paint  '  passed  away.'  I  gave  my  silver  ornaments  to  the  mis- 
sion cause.  Scalping-knife  '  done  away  ;'  tomahawk  *  done 
away.'  That  my  tomahawk  now,"  said  he,  holding  up,  at  the 
same  time,  a  copy  of  the  Ten  Commandments,  in  the  Ojibwa 
language.  "  Blanket  '  done  away.'  Behold,"  he  exclaimed, 
in  a  manner  in  which  simplicity  and  dignity  of  character  were 
combined,  "  Behold,  all  things  are  become  new !" 


REV.    GEORGE    WHITEFIELD.  IJv 


REV.  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 


The  following  facts  relating  to  the  distinguished  George 
Whitefield  were  published  a  Cew  years  since  in  Boston  : — 

There  was  nothing  in  the  appearance  of  this  extraordinary 
man  which  would  lead  you  to  suppose  that  a  Felix  would  trem- 
ble before  him.  He  was  something  above  the  middle  stature, 
well  proportioned,  and  remarkable  for  a  native  gracefulness  of 
manner.  His  complexion  was  very  fair,  his  features  regular, 
and  his  dark  blue  eyes  small  and  lively  ; — in  recovering  from 
the  measles  he  had  contracted  a  squint  with  one  of  them ;  but 
this  peculiarity  rather  rendered  the  expression  of  his  counte- 
nance more  remarkable,  than  in  any  degree  lessened  the  effect 
of  its  uncommon  sweetness.  His  voice  excelled  both  in  melo- 
dy and  compass  ;  and  its  fine  modulations  were  happily  accom- 
panied by  that  grace  of  action  which  he  possessed  in  an  emi- 
nent degree,  and  which  has  been  said  to  be  the  chief  requisite 
in  an  orator.  To  have  seen  him  when  he  first  commenced, 
one  would  have  thought  him  any  thing  but  enthusiastic  and 
glowing;  but  as  he  proceeded,  his  heart  warmed  with  his  sub- 
ject, and  his  manner  became  impetuous  and  animated,  till,  for- 
getful of  every  thing  around  him,  he  seemed  to  kneel  at  the 
throne  of  Jehovah,  and  to  beseech  in  agony  for  his  fellow- 
beings. 

After  he  had  finished  his  prayer,  he  knelt  for  a  long  time  in 
profound  silence,  and  so  powerful  was  the  effect  on  the  most 
heartless  of  his  audience,  that  a  stillness  like  that  of  the  tomb 
pervaded  the  whole  house. 

Before  he  commenced  his  sermon,  long  darkening  columns 
clouded  the  bright  sunny  sky  of  the  morning,  and  swept  their 
dull  shadows  over  the  building,  in  fearful  augury  of  the  storm. 

His  text  was — "  Strive  to  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate ;  for 


186  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

many,  I  say  unto  you,  shall  strive  to  enter  in,  and  shall  not 
be  able." 

"  See  that  emblem  of  human  life,"  said  he,  pointing  to  a 
shadow  that  was  flitting  across  the  floor.  "  It  passed  for  a 
moment,  and  concealed  the  brightness  of  heaven  from  our 
view  ;  but  it  is  gone.  And  where  will  you  be,  my  hearers, 
when  your  lives  are  passed  away  like  that  dark  cloud  ?  Oh, 
my  dear  fViends,  I  see  thousands  sitting  attentive,  with  their 
eyes  fixed  on  the  poor,  unworthy  preacher.  In  a  few  days 
we  shall  all  meet  at  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ.  We  shall 
form  a  part  of  that  vast  assembly  which  will  gather  before 
his  throne,  and  every  eye  will  behold  the  Judge.  With  a 
voice  whose  call  you  must  abide  and  answer,  he  will  inquire 
whether  on  earth  ye  strove  to  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate — whe- 
ther you  were  supremely  devoted  to  God — whether  your  hearts 
were  absorbed  in  him.  My  blood  runs  cold  when  I  think  how 
many  of  you  will  then  strive  to  enter  in  and  shall  not  be  able. 
Oh,  what  plea  can  you  make  before  the  Judge  of  the  v»  hole 
earth  ?  Can  you  say  it  has  been  your  whole  endeavour  to 
mortify  the  flesh  with  its  aflfections  and  lusts?  That  your  life 
has  been  one  long  effort  to  do  the  will  of  God  ?  No !  you 
must  answer,  '  I  made  myself  easy  in  the  world,  by  flattering 
myself  that  all  would  end  well,  but  I  have  deceived  my  ov/n 
soul :  I  am  lost.' 

"You,  0  false  and  hollow  Christians!  of  what  avail  will  it 
be  that  you  have  done  many  things  ;  that  you  have  read  much 
in  the  sacred  word ;  that  you  have  made  long  prayers  ;  that 
you  have  attended  religious  duties ;  and  appeared  holy  in  the 
eyes  of  man  ?  What  will  all  this  be,  if,  instead  of  loving  him 
supremely,  you  have  been  supposing  you  should  exalt  your- 
selves in  heaven,  by  acts  really  polluted  and  unholy  ?" 


REV.    GEORGE    WHITEFIELD.  137 

On  another  occasion,  Mr.  Whitefield  was  preaching  in  Bos- 
ton, on  the  wonders  of  creation,  providence,  and  redemption, 
when  a  violent  tempest  of  thunder  and  lightning  came  on.  In 
the  midst  of  the  sermon  it  attained  to  so  alarming  a  height  that 
the  congregation  sat  in  almost  breathless  awe.  The  preacher 
closed  his  note-book,  and,  stepping  into  one  of  the  wings  of  the 
desk,  fell  on  his  knees,  and  with  much  feeling  and  fine  taste 
repeated — 

Hark  !  The  Eterjtai,  rends  the  sky  ! 

A  mighty  voice  before  him  goes — 
A  voice  of  music  to  his  friends, 

But  threatening  thunder  to  his  foes. 
"  Come,  children,  to  your  Father's  arms ; 

Hide  in  the  chambers  of  my  grace, 
Till  the  fierce  storm  be  overblown. 

And  my  revenging  fury  cease." 

"  Let  us  devoutly  sing,  to  the  praise  and  glory  of  God,  this 
hymn.  Old  Hundred." 

The  whole  congregation  instantly  rose,  and  poured  forth  the 
sacred  song,  in  which  they  were  nobly  accompanied  by  the 
organ,  in  a  style  of  pious  grandeur  and  heartfelt  devotion  that 
was  probably  never  surpassed.  By  the  time  the  hymn  was 
finished,  the  storm  was  hushed ;  and  the  sun,  bursting  forth, 
showed  through  the  windows,  to  the  enraptured  assembly,  a 
magnificent  and  brilliant  arch  of  peace.  The  preacher  resumed 
the  desk  and  his  discourse,  with  this  apposite  quotation  ^ 

"  Look  upon  the  rainbow ;  praise  him  that  made  it.  Very 
beautiful  it  is  in  the  brightness  thereof!  It  compasseth  the  hea- 
ven about  with  a  glorious  circle ;  and  the  hands  of  the  Most 
High  have  bended  it." 

The  remainder  of  the  services  were  well  calculated  to  sus- 
tain that  elevated  feeling  which  had  been  produced  ;  and  the 
benediction  with  which  the  good  man  dismissed  the  flock  was 

12* 


138  THE    AMERICAN    CLEKGY. 

universally  received  with  streaming  eyes,  and  hearts  overflow- 
ing with  tenderness  and  gratitude. 


When  Mr.  Whitefield  once  preached  before  the  searaen  of 
New  York,  he  introduced  the  following  bold  apostrophe  into 
his  sermon  : — "Well,  my  boys,  we  have  a  clear  sky,  and  are 
making  fine  head-way  over  a  smooth  sea,  before  a  light  breeze, 
and  we  shall  soon  lose  sight  of  land.  But  what  means  this 
sudden  lowering  of  the  heavens,  and  that  dark  cloud  arising 
from  beneath  the  western  horizon  ?  Hark  !  Don't  you  hear 
distant  thunder  ?  Don't  you  see  those  flashes  of  lightning? 
There  is  a  storm  gathering  !  Every  man  to  his  duty  !  How 
the  waves  rise,  and  dash  against  the  ship  !  The  air  is  dark  ! 
The  tempest  rages  !  Our  masts  are  gone !  The  ship  is  on 
her  beam-ends?  What  next?"  The  unsuspecting  tars,  re- 
minded of  former  perils  on  the  deep,  as  if  struck  by  the  power 
of  magic,  arose,  and  with  united  voices  exclaimed,  "  Take  to 
the  long-boat."  It  need  scarcely  to  be  added  that  the  preacher 
readily  caught  at  the  reply,  and  beautifully  applied  it  to  the 
importance  of  fleeing  to  the  Rock  of  Ages  as  the  great  Refuge. 


As  Whitefield  was  once  preaching  to  a  vast  multitude  on  the 
banks  of  one  of  the  noble  rivers  of  Virginia,  he  spoke  of  the 
strength  of  depravity,  and  the  insufiiciency  of  the  means  of 
grace  to  convert  the  sinner  without  the  influence  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.  *'  Sinners,"  said  he,  "  think  not  that  I  expect  to  con- 
vert a  single  soul  of  you  by  any  thing  that  I  can  say,  without 
the  assistance  of  Him  that  is  *  mighty  to  save.'  Gro  and 
stand  by  that  river,,  as  it  moves  on  its  strong  and  deep  current 
to  the  ocean,  and  bid  it  stop,  and  see  if  it  will  obey  you.  Just 
as  soon  should  I  expect  to  stop  that  river  by  a  word,  as,  by  my 


REV.    GECRGE    WHITEFIELD.  139 

preaching,  to  stop  that  current  of  sin  that  is  carrying  you  to 
perdition.  Father  in  heaven,  see  !  they  are  hurried  on  towards 
hell ;  save  them,  or  they  perish  !"  The  impression  which  this 
address  produced  upon  his  hearers  was  so  strong,  that  they 
were  ready  to  respond  with  trembling,  "  Save,  Lord,  or  we 
perish." 


Whitefield  was  once  preaching  to  a  vast  crowd  of  people  in 
Southern  Pennsylvania,  at  that  time  ignorant  and  uncivilized. 
He  was  incessantly  disturbed  by  their  noise,  and  twice  rebuked 
them  with  great  severity.  At  length,  he  was  so  overcome  by 
their  noisy  and  irreverent  conduct,  that  he  stopped  short, 
dropped  his  head  into  his  hands,  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears,  and 
exclaimed,  "  Oh  !  Lord  God  !  I  am  ashamed  that  these  people 
are  provoking  thy  wrath,  and  I  dare  not  reprove  them  a  third 
time !"  Such  was  the  effect  of  this,  that  his  audience  were 
perfectly  quiet  till  the  end  of  his  discourse. 


A  young  man,  who  was  a  member  of  the  college  at  Prince- 
ton, hearing  that  Whitefield  was  to  preach  in  the  neighbour- 
hood, attended,  anxious  to  satisfy  himself  whether  the  preacher 
really  deserved  all  the  celebrity  he  had  acquired.  The  day 
was  rainy,  and  the  audience  was  small ;  and  the  preacher, 
accustomed  to  address  thousands  at  once,  did  not  feel  his 
powers  called  forth  as  at  other  times.  After  hearing  about 
one-third  of  the  sermon,  the  young  man  said  to  himself,  "  The 
man  is  not  so  great  a  wonder  after  all — quite  common-place 
and  superficial — nothing  but  show,  and  not  a  great  deal  of 
that ;"  and,  looking  round  upon  the  audience,  he  saw  that  they 

also  appeared  uninterested,  and  that  old  father ,  who  sat 

directly  ift  front  of  the  pulpit,  and  who  always  went  to  sleep 


140  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

after  hearing  the  text  and  plan  of  the  sermon,  was  enjoying  a 
nap,  as  usual.  About  this  time,  Whitefield  stopped.  His  face 
went  rapidly  through  many  changes,  till  it  looked  more  like  a 
rising  thunder-cloud  than  any  thing  else ;  and  beginning  ver^y 
deliberately,  he  said,  "  If  I  had  come  to  speak  to  you  in  my 
own  name,  you  might  rest  your  elbows  on  your  knees,  and 
your  heads  upon  your  hands,  and  sleep ;  and,  once  in  a  while, 
look  up  and  say,  '  What  does  the  babbler  talk  of?'  But  I  have 
not  come  to  you  in  my  own  name.  No ;  I  have  come  to  you 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord  God  of  Hosts,  and" — here  he  brought 
down  his  hand  and  foot  at  once,  so  as  to  make  the  whole  house 
ling  again — "  and  I  must  and  will  be  heard."     Every  one  in 

the  house  started,  and  old  father among  the  rest.     "Ay, 

ay,"  continued  the  preacher,  looking  at  him,  "  I  have  waked 
you  up,  have  I?  I  meant  to  do  it.  I  have  not  come  here  to 
preach  to  stocks  and  stones ;  I  have  come  to  you  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord  God  of  Hosts,  and  I  must  and  I  will  have  an 
audience."  The  congregation  was  fully  aroused,  and  the  re- 
raaining  part  of  the  sermon  produced  considerable  effect. 


When  visiting  America,  Mr.  Whitefield  often  stood  on  the 
outside  steps  of  the  court-house,  in  Market  street,  at  the  corner 
of  Second,  in  Philadelphia,  and  preached  to  thousands  who 
crowded  the  streets  below.  On  one  of  these  occasions,  a 
youth  pressed  as  near  to  his  favourite  preacher  as  possible ; 
and,  to  testify  his  respect,  held  a  lantern  for  his  accommoda- 
tion. Soon  after  the  serm'on  began,  he  became  so  absorbed  in 
the  subject,  that  the  lantern  fell  from  his  hand,  and  was 
dashed  to  pieces  ;  and  that  part  of  the  audience  in  the  imme- 
diate vicinity  of  the  speaker's  station,  were  not  a  Httle  discom- 
posed by  the  occurrence. 

Some  years  after,  Mr.  Whitefield,  in  the  course  of  his  fifth 


REV.    GEORGE    WHITEFIELD.  141 

visit  to  America,  about  the  year  1754,  on  a  journey  from  the 
southward,  called  at  St.  George's,  in  Delaware,  where  Mr. 
(afterwards  Dr.)  Rodgers  was  then  settled  in  the  ministry,  and 
spent  some  time  with  him.  In  the  course  of  this  visit,  Mr. 
Rodgers,  riding  one  day  with  his  visitor  in  a  close  carriage, 
asked  him  whether  he  recollected  the  occurrence  of  the  little 
boy  who  was  so  much  affected  with  his  preaching  as  to  let  the 
lantern  fall.  Mr.  Whitefield  answered,  "  Oh,  yes  !  I  remember 
it  well ;  and  have  often  thought  I  would  give  almost  any  thing 
in  my  power  to  know  who  that  little  boy  was,  and  what  had 
become  of  him."  Mr.  Rodgers  replied,  with  a  smile,  "  I  am 
that  little  boy."  Mr.  Whitefield,  with  tears  of  joy,  started 
from  his  seat,  clasped  him  in  his  arms,  and  with  strong  emo- 
tions remarked,  that  he  was  the  fourteenth  person  then  in  the 
ministry,  whom  he  had -discovered  in  the  course  of  that  visit 
to  America,  of  whose  hopeful  conversion  he  had  been  the 
instrument. 


Mr.  Whitefield,  in  his  diary,  under  date  of  November  9, 
1740,  gives  the  following  account  of  the  conversion  of  Mr. 
Brockden,  recorder  of  deeds;  a  man  eminent  in  his  profession, 
but  for  many  years  a  notorious  deist : — "  In  his  younger  days, 
he  told  me,  he  had  some  religious  impressions,  but  going  into 
business,  the  cares  of  the  world  so  choked  the  good  seed,  that 
lie  not  only  forgot  his  God  in  some  degree,  but  at  length  began 
to  doubt  of  and  dispute  his  very  being.  In  this  state  he  con- 
tinued many  years,  and  had  been  very  zealous  to  propagate 
his  deistical  (I  could  almost  say  atheistical)  principles,  among 
moral  men ;  but  he  told  me  he  never  endeavoured  to  make 
j^roselytes  of  vicious,  debauched  people.  When  I  came  to 
Philadelphia  this  time  twelvemonth,  he  told  me  he  had  not 
so  much  as  a  curiosity  to  hear  me.  But  a  brother  deist,  hin 
choicest  friend,  pressed  him  to  come  and  hear  me.     To  satisfy 


142  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

his  curiosity,  he  at  length  complied  with  the  request.  I 
preached  at  the  court-house  stairs,  upon  the  conference  which 
the  Lord  had  with  Nicodemus.  I  had  not  spoken  much,  before 
the  Lord  touched  his  heart.  '  For,'  said  he,  '  I  saw  your  doc- 
trine tended  to  make  people  good.'  His  family  knew  not  that 
he  had  been  to  hear  me.  After  he  came  home,  his  wife,  who 
had  been  at  sermon,  came  in  also,  and  wished  heartily  thai  he 
had  heard  me.  He  said  nothing.  After  this,  another  of  his 
family  came  in,  i-epeating  the  same  wish  ;  and,  if  I  mistake 
not,  after  that  another;  till,  at  last,  being  unable  to  refrain  any 
longer,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  '  Why,'  said  he,  '  I  have  been 
hearing  him ;'  and  then  expressed  his  approbation.  Ever 
since,  he  has  followed  on  to  know  the  Lord  ;  and  I  verily  be- 
lieve Jesus  Christ  has  made  himself  manifest  to  his  soul.  Though 
upwards  of  three-score  years  old,  he  is  now,  I  believe,  born 
again  of  God.  He  is  as  a  little  child,  and  often,  as  he  told 
me,  receives  such  communications  from  God,  when  he  retires 
into  the  woods,  that  he  thinks  he  could  die  a  martyr  for  the 
tfuth." 


Mr.  Whitefield  once  visited  Chestertown,  Kent  county,  on 
the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland.  The  minister  of  the  parish 
did  not  like  Whitefield's  new  mode  of  preaching ;  and  so,  to 
stop  him,  so  far  as  his  own  congregation  was  concerned, 
preached  a  sermon  directly  opposed  to  him,  Whitefield  being 
present,  from  the  text,  "Paul,  thou  art  beside  thyself;  much 
learning  doth  make  thee  mad."  The  sermon  was,  of  course, 
very  pointed. 

At  the  close  of  the  service,  Whitefield  took  his  stand  at  the 
Hoor  of  the  church,  and  announced  to  the  retiring  congrega- 
tion that  he  would  preach  that  afternoon,  under  a  fine,  largo 
oak,  that  stood  in  sight.  It  is  not  necessary  to  say  that  all 
who  had  heard  the  minister,  and  many  hundreds  besides,  went 


REV.    GEORGE    WHITEFIELD.  143 

to  hear  him.  His  text  was,  "  I  am  not  mad,  most  noble  Festus, 
but  speak  forth  the  words  of  truth  and  soberness."  Tradition 
says  that  the  miaister  was  quite  outdone,  and  literally  "  used 
up."  It  was  further  said  that  Whitefield's  voice  was  distinctly 
heard  on  the  Queen  Anne's  side  of  the  river ;  which  must  be 
a  distance,  from  where  the  oak  stood,  of  a  mile  and  a  quarter. 


On  one  occasion,  during  Whitefield's  residence  in  this  coun- 
try, a  black  trumpeter,  belonging  to  an  English  regiment, 
resolved  to  interrupt  him,  during  a  discourse  which  he  was 
expected  to  deliver  in  the  open  air.  At  the  hour  appointed  for 
the  sermon,  he  repaired  to  the  field  where  it  was  to  be  preached, 
carrying  his  trumpet  with  him,  on  purpose  to  blow  it  with  all 
his  might,  about  the  middle  of  the  sermon.  He  took  his  stand 
in  front  of  the  minister,  and  at  no  great  distance.  The  con- 
course that  attended  became  very  great ;  and  those  who  were 
towards  the  extremity  of  the  crowd  pressed  forward,  in  order 
to  hear  more  distinctly,  which  caused  such  a  pressure  at  the 
place  where  the  trumpeter  stood,  that  he  found  it  impossible  to 
raise  up  the  arm  which  held  the  trumpet,  at  the  time  he 
intended  to  blow  it.  He  attempted  to  extricate  himself  from 
the  crowd,  but  found  this  equally  impossible,  so  that  he  was 
kept  within  hearing  of  the  gospel  as  securely  as  if  he  had  been 
chained  to  the  spot.  In  a  short  time,  his  attention  was  arrested, 
and  he  became  so  powerfully  affected  by  what  the  preacher 
presented  to  his  mind,  that  he  was  seized  with  an  agony  of 
despair,  and  was  carried  to  a  house  in  the  neighbourhood. 
When  the  service  was  over,  he  was  visited  by  Mr.  Whitefield, 
who  tendered  some  seasonable  counsels  ;  and  the  poor  trum 
peter  from  that  time  became  an  altered  man. 


144  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

The  following  anecdote,  related  by  Dr.  Franklin,  which  is 
equally  characteristic  of  the  preacher  and  himself,  further 
illustrates  the  power  of  Mr.  Whitefield's  eloquence :  "  I  hap- 
pened," says  the  doctor,  "  to  attend  one  of  his  sermons,  in 
the  course  of  which  I  perceived  he  intended  to  finish  with  a 
collection,  and  I  silently  resolved  he  should  get  nothing  from 
me.  I  had  in  my  pocket  a  handful  of  copper  money,  three  or 
four  silver  dollars,  and  five  pistoles  in  gold.  As  he  proceeded, 
I  began  to  soften,  and  concluded  to  give  the  copper.  Another 
stroke  of  his  oratory  made  me  ashamed  of  that,  and  deter- 
mined me  to  give  the  silver ;  and  he  finished  so  admirably, 
that  I  emptied  my  pocket  wholly  into  the  collector's  dish — 
gold  and  all.  At  this  vsermon,  there  was  also  one  of  our  club; 
who,  being  of  my  sentiments  respecting  the  building  in  Georgia, 
and  suspecting  a  collection  might  be  intended,  had,  by  precau- 
tion, emptied  his  pockets  before  he  came  from  home.  Towards 
the  conclusion  of  the  discourse,  however,  he  felt  a  strong  incli- 
nation to  give,  and  applied  to  a  neighbour,  who  stood  near 
him,  to  lend  him  some  money  for  the  purpose.  The  request 
was  made  to,  perhaps,  the  only  man  in  the  company  who  had 
the  coldness  not  to  be  affected  by  the  preacher.  His  answer 
was,  "At  any  other  time,  friend  Hodgkinson,  I  would  lend  to 
thee  freely  ;  but  not  now,  for  thee  seems  to  be  out  of  thy  right 
senses." 


The  late  Rev.  Dr.  Lathrop,  of  West  Springfield,  Massachu- 
setts, related  to  Mr.  Whitefield  a  fact  which  the  Doctor  had 
personally  witnessed ;  and  he  related  it  without  much  feeling. 
The  same  day,  Mr.  Whitefield  introduced  the  story  into  his 
sermon,  and  Dr.  Lathrop,  as  he  heard  it,  found  himself  drowned 
in  tears. 


REV.    DR.    UlTCUOOCK.  145 


REV.  MR.  BENNETT. 


A  VENERABLE  clergyman,  usually  called  Father  Bennett,  in 
an  excellent  sermon,  preached  in  the  city  of  Boston,  stated  that 
a  pious  minister,  while  speaking  of  the  love  of  Christ  for  a 
lost  world,  alluded  to  his  peculiar  attachment  to  the  third  chap- 
ter of  John.  Said  the  minister,  "  It  makes  no  difference  as  to 
what  part  of  the  Bible  1  begin ;  whether  I  commence  at  Gene- 
sis, and  proceed  forward  to  Revelation,  or  whether  I  commence 
at  Revelation,  and  proceed  backward  to  Genesis — I carCt  help 
stopping  at  the  Sd  chapter  of  Johnr  "  But  now-a-days," 
added  Father  Bennett,  "  a  great  many  persons,  wherever  they 
commence  in  the  Bible,  prefer  to  make  their  stopping-place 
among  the  prophecies  of  Daniel,  instead  of  stopping  where  the 
good  minister  did,  at  the  third  chapter  of  John,  where  their  hearts 
would  be  warmed  by  the  declaration  that  '  God  so  loved  the 
world,  that  he  gave  his  only-begotten  Son,  that  whosoever 
believeth  in  him  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life.' " 


REV.  DR.  HITCHCOCK. 


The  following  incident  was  related  by  President  Hitchcock, 
in  a  sermon  preached  in  the  College  Chapel,  Amherst,  Massa- 
chusetts, on  "  The  Moral  Dignity  of  the  Christian  Character," 
and  is  a  beautiful  illustration  of  the  subject : — 

Allow  me  here  to  refer  to  a  case  that  lately  fell  under  my 
observation,  which  illustrates  more  forcibly  than  I  had  ever 
conceived,  the  priceless  value  of  the  Christian  hope  to  the 
most  unfortunate  and  degraded.  I  had  descended  a  thousand 
feet  beneath  the  earth's  surface,  in  the  coal-pits  of  the  Mid 
Lothian  Mines,  in  Virginia,  and  was  wandering  through  their 
dark  subterranean  passages,  when  the  voice  of  music  at  a  little 

13 


116  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

distance  broke  upon  my  ear.     It  ceased  upon  our  approach, 
and  I  caught  only  the  concluding  sentiment  of  the  hymn, 

"  I  shall  be  in  heaven  in  the  morning." 

On  advancing  with  our  lamps,  we  found  the  passage  closed 
by  a  door,  in  order  to  give  a  different  direction  to  the  currents 
of  air,  for  the  purpose  of  ventilation;  yet  this  door  must  be 
opened  occasionally  to  let  the  rail-cars  pass,  loaded  with  coal. 
And  to  accomplish  this,  we  found  sitting  by  that  door  an  aged 
blind  slave,  whose  eyes  had  been  entirely  destroyed  by  a  blast 
of  gunpowder,  many  years  before,  in  that  mine.  There  he 
sat,  on  a  seat  cut  in  the  coal,  from  sunrise  to  sunset,  day  after 
day ;  his  sole  business  being  to  open  and  shut  the  door,  when 
he  heard  the  rail-cars  approaching.  We  requested  him  to  sing 
again  the  hymn  whose  last  line  vve  had  heard.  It  was,  indeed, 
lame  in  expression,  and  in  the  poetic  measure  very  defective; 
being,  in  fact,  one  of  those  productions  which  we  found  the 
pious  slaves  were  in  the  habit  of  singing,  in  part  at  least,  im- 
promptu.    But  each  stanza  closes  with  the  sentiment, 

"  I  shall  be  in  heaven  in  the  morning." 

It  was  sung  with  a  clear  and  pleasant  voice,  and  I  could  see 
the  shrivelled,  sightless  eyeballs  of  the  old  man  rolling  in  their 
sockets,  as  if  his  soul  felt  the  inspiring  sentiments ;  and  really 
the  exhibition  was  one  of  the  most  affecting  that  I  have  ever 
witnessed.  There  he  stood — an  old  man,  whose  earthly  hopes, 
even  at  the  best,  must  be  very  faint ;  and  he  was  a  slave — and 
he  was  bhnd — what  could  he  hope  for  on  earth  ?  He  was 
buried,  too,  a  thousand  feet  beneath  the  solid  rocks.  In  the 
expressive  language  of  Jonah,  "  He  had  gone  down  to  the  bot- 
tom of  the  mountains  ;  the  earth,  with  her  bars,  was  about  him 
for  ever."  There,  from  month  to  month,  he  sat  in  total  dark- 
ness. Oh,  how  utterly  cheerless  his  condition  !  And  yet  that 
one  blessed  hope  of  a  resurrection  morning,  was  enough   to 


REV.    DR.    HITCHCOCK.  147 

infuse  peace  and  joy  into  his  soul.  I  had  often  listened  to 
touching  music ;  I  had  heard  gigantic  intellects  pour  forth 
enchanting  eloquence  ;  but  never  did  music  or  eloquence  exert 
such  an  overpowering  influence  upon  my  feelings,  as  did  this 
scene.  Never  before  did  I  feel  the  mighty  po^ver  of  Christian 
liope.  Never  before  did  I  witness  so  grand  an  exhibition  of 
sublimity.  Oh,  how  comparatively  insignificant  did  earth's 
mightiest  warriors  and  statesmen,  her  princes  and  emperors, 
j;nd  even  her  philosophers,  without  piety,  appear  I  How  pow- 
<u"less  would  all  their  pomp  and  pageantry  and  wisdom  be  to 
sustain  them,  if  called  to  change  places  with  this  poor  slave ! 
lie  had  a  principle  within  him  superior  to  them  all ;  and  when 
the  morning  which  he  longs  for  shall  come,  how  infinitely 
better  than  theirs  will  his  lot  appear  to  an  admiring  universe ! 
And  that  morning  shall  ere  long  break  in  upon  thy  darkness, 
benighted  old  man !  The  light  of  the  natural  sun,  and  the 
face  of  this  fair  world  will  never,  indeed,  revisit  you ;  and  the 
remnant  of  your  days  must  be  spent  in  your  monotonous  task, 
by  the  side  of  the  wicket-gate,  deep  in  the  caverns  of  the 
earth ;  but  that  bright  and  blessed  hope  of  a  resurrection 
morning  shall  not  deceive  you.  The  Saviour,  in  whom  you 
trust,  shall  manifest  himself  to  you,  even  in  your  deep  dark- 
ness ;  and  at  the  appointed  hour,  the  chains  of  slavery  shall 
drop  off,  and  the  double  night  which  envelops  you  shall  vanish 
into  the  light  and  the  liberty  and  glory  of  heaven.  And^  just 
in  proportion  to  the  depths  of  your  darkness  and  degradation 
now,  shall  be  the  brightness  and  the  joy  of  that  everlasting 
day. 

I  would  add,  that  on  inquiry  of  the  pious  slaves  engaged  in 
these  mines,  I  found  that  the  blind  old  man  had  a  fair  reputa- 
tion for  piety,  and  that  it  was  not  till  the  loss  of  his  eyes  that 
he  was  led  to  accept  of  a  Saviour.  It  may  be  that  the  destruc- 
tion of  his  natural  vision  was  the  appointed  means  of  opening 
the  eye  of  faith  within  his  soul. 


148  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


A  MINISTER  IN  NEW  ENGLAND. 

Some  years  since,  a  distinguished  minister  in  New  England 
thought  within  himself,  what  would  be  the  effect  at  the  present 
day  of  the  preaching  of  the  great  divines  of  the  seventeenth 
century?  The  more  he  pondered  the  thought,  the  more  it  in- 
terested hi  mind,  until  at  last  he  resolved  to  test  the  problem, 
by  copying,  and  preaching  to  his  own  people,  a  sermon  from 
one  of  their  number.  Mentioning  to  a  few  individuals  his  plan 
and  the  reasons  of  it,  that  he  might  not  be  charged  with  pla- 
giarism, he  made  the  experiment.  The  Sabbath  came;  the 
sermon  was  preached,  and  it  told  with  mighty  power.  His 
large  and  intelligent  congregation  were  riveted  in  breathless 
attention,  and  were  solemn  as  the  grave.  They  went  from  the 
house,  a  few  speaking,  in  under-tones,  of  the  deep  impressive- 
ness  and  power  of  the  sermon,  but  most  of  them  giving  still 
higher  tribute  to  its  excellence  by  the  thoughtful  stillness  in 
which  they  walked,  searching  their  own  hearts,  and  thinking 
of  eternal  things. 

The  sermon  was  from  Richard  Baxter,  and  its  influence  m 
that  congregation,  and  through  it,  will  never  die  ;  its  power 
may  go  down  from  generation  to  generation,  to  be  known  in 
its  fulness  only  at  the  judgment.  By  it,  "  he,  being  dead,"  is 
yet  speaking,  and  the  power  of  his  voice  may  be  felt  for  ever 


REV.  MR.  S. 


A  DEVOTED  servant  of  God,  on  one  occasion,  some  years  ago, 
preached  upon  the  Diotrephesian  spirit.  In  his  usual  faithful 
manner,  he  pointed  out  its  sad  effects  upon  a  church,  until,  in 


REV.    DK.    STILLMAX.  149 

ils  application,  he  came  so  close,  that  some  persons  were  sur- 
prised, knowing  how  delightful  the  harmony  had  always  been 
in  that  church.  One  of  them  soon  began  to  persuade  himself, 
liowever,  that  there  was  a  Diotrephes  there,  but  could  not  sa- 
tisfy himself  who  it  was.  He  ventured  to  seek  information, 
and  turning  to  a  good  brother,  an  elder  in  the  church,  he  said, 

"  Mr.  L ,  who  DOES  Mr.  S.  mean  ?"  "  You  and  we,"  was 

his  quick  reply.  That  hearer  has  never  asked  since,  who  his 
minister  meant,  when  he  was  delivering  the  message  of  his 
Master. 


REV.  DR.  STILLMAN. 


In  the  course  of  two  weeks,  the  late  Dr.  Stillman  was  called 
to  bear  the  loss  of  two  children,  who  had  attained  adult  age. 
The  stroke  was  heavy,  and  the  wound  grievous,  like  the  pierc- 
ing of  a  sword  to  the  heart ;  the  support  of  religion,  however, 
not  only  sustained  him,  but  also  caused  him  to  triumph  over 
the  trial.  For  his  first  sermon  after  this  bereavement,  he  took 
for  his  text,  Romans  viii.  18  :  "For  I  reckon  that  the  suffer- 
ings of  this  present  time  are  not  worthy  to  be  compared  with 
the  glory  that  shall  be  revealed  in  us."  The  congregation  had 
expected  to  hear  an  account  of  the  mournful  state  of  his  mind, 
but  were  delighted  with  the  cheerful  picture  he  presented  of 
his  own  feelings  in  the  prospect  of  that  eternal  glory,  which 
faith  presented  to  his  animated  vision  and  certain  hope.  On 
one  occasion,  in  his  study,  a  few  who  were  candidates  for  ad- 
mission into  his  church,  had  expressed  their  faith  and  hope  in 
Christ  with  freedom  and  cheerfulness.  Their  views  evidently 
affecting  the  pastor's  heart,  he  looked  round  most  affectionately 
upon  the  little  group,  and  with  a  smile  of  delight  thus  made 
known  his  feelings ;  "What  a  wonderfully  strange  thing  reU- 
gion  is !     How  happy  it  makes  us!"    His  cheerful  countenance 

13* 


150  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGIT 

indicated  his  entire  willingness  to  leave  all  earthly  society  for 
the  presence  of  Christ  in  glory.  A  person  said,  "  Sir,  I  was 
recently  walking  in  the  street  in. happy  meditation,  and  my 
mind  was  so  delightfully  elevated  that  heaven  appeared  to  be 
but  a  little  way  off."  "Ah !"  replied  he,  "  heaven  is  not  far 
off  when  we  feel  right." 


The  Rev.  Dr.  Pierce,  in  his  discourse  delivered  on  the  fiftieth 
anniversary  of  his  settlement  at  Brookline,  Mass.,  in  alluding 
to  Dr.  Stillman,  says  : 

"  The  bare  allusion  to  this  godly  man  recals  delightful  asso- 
ciations, of  which  I  must  ask  leave  to  take  a  passing  notice. 
When  a  boy,  no  greater  boon  could  I  ask  of  my  father,  than 
permission  to  walk  five  miles,  on  the  Lord's-day  morning,  to 
hear  this  good  man  preach ;  and  to  remain,  through  the  day, 
to  be  sure  of  a  seat  in  his  crowded  house,  for  the  afternoon. 
It  has  been  my  privilege,  in  my  time,  to  hear  eloquent  preach- 
ers of  great  notoriety ;  but,  for  pulpit  eloquence,  I  have  been 
m  the  invariable  habit  of  assigning  him  the  very  first  rank. 
Indeed,  every  sermon  he  delivered  was  with  an  earnestness, 
as  if  he  had  received  one  more  important  message  from  his 
Master,  and  the  present  might  be  his  only  opportunity  for 
delivering  it." 


AN  EMINENT  CLERGYMAN. 


It  is  related  of  a  clergyman,  distinguished  alike  for  his  elo- 
quence and  exemplary  piety,  that  having  an  appointment  to 
preach  in  a  certain  village,  he  stopped  on  Saturday  evening, 
at  the  house  of  one  of  his  early  acquaintances,  a  resident  of 
the  village.  To  his  surprise,  he  found  his  old  friend  a  distiller 
and  vender  of  ardent  spirits,  and  e.xceedingly  bitter  against  the 


REV.    MR.    GILLESPIE.  151 

temperance  cause.  He  could  not  refrain,  all  the  evening,  from 
giving  vent  to  his  feelings  against  all  the  temperance  men  and 
every  temperance  movement.  The  next  day  the  preacher  took 
his  text  from  Jonah :  "  Dost  thou  well  to  be  angry  ?"  He 
showed  what  good  was  doing  in  the  days  in  which  we  live,  and 
especially  in  the  temperance  cause ;  how  that  cause  was  dry- 
ing up  the  fountains  of  pauperism,  and  crime,  and  brutaUty ; 
saving  thousands  on  thousands  from  the  drunkard's  path,  and 
restoring  many  a  lost  man  to  society  and  his  family ;  trans- 
forming the  most  degraded  and  abject  beings  in  the  community 
into  useful,  respectable,  and  wealthy  citizens.  And  as  he  enu- 
merated one  blessing  after  another,  he  would  look  down  upon 
his  friend  and  ask,  "Dost  thou  well  to  be  angry?"  It  was 
more  than  the  poor  man  could  bear  :  shame  and  confusion  were 
his.  He  hid  his  face  from  all  the  congregation,  and  as  soon 
as  possible  made  the  best  of  his  way  home  from  church ;  and 
from  that  day,  no  man  became  a  stronger  advocate  of  tempe- 
rance reform,  or  made  greater  pecuniary  sacrifices  in  its 
behalf. 


REV.  MR.  GILLESPIE. 


This  energetic  minister,  in  his  "  Lectures  to  Young  Men  on 
the  Formation  of  Character,"  says,  very  forcibly,  ^^I  canH  do 
i^"  never  did  any  thing — '-'•Vll  try'''  has  worked  wonders- — 
and  ''^I  will  do  iC  has  performed  prodigies. 


152  THE    AMEBIC  AN    CLERGY. 

REV.  MR.  MOODY. 

Father  Moody  was  born  at  Newbury,  in  1675,  graduated 
at  Harvard  College  in  1697,  was  settled  at  York,  Me.,  in  1700, 
and  died,  at  72  years  of  age,  in  1747.  He  refused  to  receive 
from  his  people  a  stipulated  salary,  and  lived  with  them  half  a 
century  on  their  voluntary  donations.  The  following  anec- 
dote is  related  of  him  : 

Colonel  Ingraham,  a  wealthy  parishioner,  had  retained  his 
large  stock  of  corn  in  a  time  of  great  scarcity,  in  hopes  of  raising 
the  price.  Father  Moody  heard  of  it,  and  resolved  upon  a  public 
attack  upon  the  transgressor.  So  he  arose  in  the  pulpit  one 
Sabbath,  and  named  as  his  text,  Prov.  xi.  26, — '  He  that  with- 
holdeth  corn,  the  people  shall  curse  him  ;  but  blessings  shall 
be  upon  the  head  of  him  that  selleth  it.'  Colonel  Ingraham  could 
not  but  know  to  whom  the  reference  was  made,  but  he  held  up 
his  head,  and  faced  his  pastor  with  a  look  of  stolid  unconscious- 
ness. Father  Moody  went  on  with  some  very  applicable  re- 
marks, but  Colonel  Ingraham  still  pretended  not  to  understand 
the  allusion.  Father  Moody  grew  very  warm,  and  became  still 
more  direct  in  his  remarks  upon  matters  and  things  ;  but  Colonel 
Ingraham  still  held  up  his  head  as  high,  perhaps  a  little  higher, 
than  ever,  and  would  not  put  on  the  coat  prepared  for  him. 
Father  Moody  at  length  lost  all  patience.  "  Colonel  Ingra- 
ham !"  said  he,  "  you  know  that  I  mean  you;  why  don't  you 
hang  down  your  head  ?" 


Mr.  Moody  was  once  on  a  journey,  in  the  western  part  of 
Massachusetts,  and  called  on  a  brother  in  the  ministry,  on  Sa- 
turday, thinking  to  spend  the  Sabbath  with  him,  if  agreeable. 
The  good  man  appeared  very  glad  to  see  him,  and  said,  "  I 
should  be  very  glad  to  have  you  stop  and  preach  for  me  to-mor 
row;  but  I  feel  almost  ashamed  to  ask  you."     "Why,  what 


REV,    MR.    MOODY.  133 

is  the  matter ?"  asked  Mr.  Moody.  "Why,  our  people  have 
got  into  such  a  habit  of  going  out  before  worship  closes,  that 
it  seems  to  be  an  imposition  upon  a  stranger."  "  If  that  is  all, 
I  must  and  will  stop  and  preach  for  you,"  was  Mr.  Moody's 
reply.  When  the  Sabbath-day  came,  and  Mr.  Moody  had 
opened  the  service  and  named  his  text,  he  looked  round  on  the 
assembly,  and  said,  "  My  hearers,  I  am  going  to  speak  to  two 
sorts  of  folks  to-day,  saints  and  sinners.  Sinners,  I  am  going 
to  give  you  your  portion  first,  and  I  would  have  you  give  good 
attention."  When  he  had  preached  to  them  as  long  as  he 
thought  well,  he  paused  and  said,  "  There,  sinners,  I  have 
done  with  you  now  ;  you  may  take  your  hats  and  go  out  of 
the  meeting-house  as  soon  as  you  please  !"  But  all  tarried  and 
heard  him  through. 


A  young  clergyman  was  once  visiting  him,  and  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  Sabbath,  he  asked  him  if  he  would  not  preach, 
"  Oh,  no,  Father  Moody,"  was  the  young  gentleman's  reply, 
"  I'm  travelling  for  my  health,  and  wish  to  be  entirely  relieved 
from  clerical  duties.  Besides,  you,  sir,  are  a  distinguished 
father  in  Israel,  and  one  whom  I  have  long  wished  to  have  an 
opportunity  of  hearing,  and  I  hope  to-day  for  that  gratifica- 
tion." 

"  Well,"  said  the  old  man,  as  they  wended  their  way  to  the 
meeting-house,  "  you  will  sit  with  nr^  in  the  pulpit  V 

It  was  immaterial,  the  young  mmister  replied ;  he  could  sit 
in  the  pulpit  or  in  the  pew,  as  Father  Moody  preferred.  So, 
when  they  entered  the  meeting-house.  Father  Moody  stalked 
on,  turned  his  companion  up  the  pulpit  stairs,  and  went  him- 
self into  the  parsonage  pew. 

The  young  man  looked  rather  blank  when  he  found  himself 
alone,  and  waited  a  long  while  for  his  host  to  "  come  to  the  res- 
cue."    But  there  Father  Moody  sat  before  him,  as  straight  and 


154  THE    AMERICAN   CLERGY. 

Stiff  as  a  statue,  and,  finding  there  was  to  be  no  reprieve  for 
him,  he  opened  the  Bible,  and  went  through  with  the  exercise. 
Perhaps  the  excitement  caused  by  this  strange  treatment  might 
have  enlivened  his  brain ;  at  all  events,  he  preached  remarka- 
bly well.  After  the  conclusion  of  the  services.  Father  Moody 
arose  in  his  pew  and  said  to  the  congregation, — "  My  friends, 
we  have  had  an  excellent  discourse  this  morning,  from  our 
young  brother ;  but  you  are  all  indebted  to  me  for  it." 


REV.  MR.  WILLARD. 


Mr.  Treat,  a  minister  of  Eastham,  married  a  daughter  of 
Mr.  Willard,  one  of  the  pastors  of  the  Old  South  Church,  Bos- 
ton,  in  the  seventeenth  century.  The  matter  of  his  sermons, 
it  is  stated,  was  excellent,  but  it  was  greatly  injured  by  the 
badness  of  his  manner.  After  his  marriage  with  the  daughter 
of  Mr.  Willard,  he  was  sometimes  invited  by  the  latter  to 
preach  in  his  pulpit.  Mr.  Willard  possessed  an  agreeable  de- 
livery and  harmonious  voice,  and  as  a  natural  consequence,  he 
was  generally  admired.  Mr.  Treat  having  preached  one  of  his 
best  discourses  to  the  congregation  of  his  father-in-law,  in  his 
usual  unhappy  manner,  excited  much  dissatisfaction.  Several 
jiersons  waited  on  Mr.  Willard,  and  begged  that  Mr.  Treat 
might  not  be  invited  into  the  pulpit  again.  To  this  request 
Mr.  Willard  made  no  reply ;  but  he  desired  his  son-in-law  to 
lend  him  the  discourse,  which  being  left  with  him,  he  delivered 
it,  without  alteration,  to  his  people,  a  few  weeks  after.  The 
hearers  were  delighted,  and  requested  a  copy  for  the  press. 
"  See  the  difference,"  said  they,  "  between  yourself  and  your 
son-in-law.  You  have  preached  a  sermon  on  the  same  text  as 
Mr.  Treat's ;  but  while  his  was  intolerable,  yours  was  excel 
lent." 


RKV.    DR.    WADDELL.  155 

REV.  MR.  TRUAIR. 

When  we  do  a  little  good,  who  can  tell  us  where  the  happy 
effects  of  it  will  end  ?  In  the  year  1822,  soon  after  the  effons 
for  the  benefit  of  seamen  were  commenced  in  New  York,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Truair  was  on  a  tour,  preaching  and  making  collec- 
tions for  that  cause.  In  the  course  of  his  journey  he  preached 
one  evening  at  a  school-house  in  a  little  town  in  Vermont, 
containing  only  .a  few  scattered  inhabitants.  The  next  morn- 
ing he  met  a  poor  woman  in  the  neighbourhood  who  had  heard 
his  sermon,  and  felt  desirous  of  doincr  something  for  the  sailor's 
cayse.  Having  no  money,  she  brought  a  bag  of  mustard  seed, 
which  she  begged  him  to"  accept,  hoping  it  might  turn  to  some 
good  account.  Mr.  T.  conveyed  the  mustard  seed  to  New 
York,  and  on  his  stating  the  "facts,  some  of  the  members  of  the 
board  of  directors  purchased  it  for  three  dollars,  proposing  to 
present  it  to  some  missionaries  then  about  to  sail  to  Palestine, 
that  they  might  sow  it  there.  The  next  day,  the  circumstances 
were  mentioned  to  a  few  friends,  and  several  dollars  more  were 
added  to  the  purchase.  The  following  Sabbath  evening  it  was 
mentioned  at  the  Mariners'  church,  and  twelve  dollars  more 
were  added.  And  on  the  following  Tuesday  evening,  the  in- 
cident was  told  at  a  prayer-meeting,  and  the  sum  of  nine 
dollars  more  was  taken.  The  amount  thus  received  for  the 
poor  woman's  "  two  mites"  was  thirty  dollars.  Surely  "  she 
of  her  penury  cast  in  more  than  they  all  1" 


X- 


REV.  DR.  WADDELL. 


The  following  narrative,  written  by  the  late  distinguished 
Attorney  General,  William  Wirt,  is  too  good  either  to  be 
omitted  or  abridged  : — • 


loti  THE    A3IERICa:,    CLERGY. 

It  was  one  Sunday,  as  I  travelled  through  the  county  of 
Orange,  that  my  eye  was  caught  hy  a  chister  of  horses  lied 
near  a  ruinous  old  wooden  house  in  the  forest,  not  far  from  the 
road-side.  Having  frequently  seen  such  objects  before,  in 
travelling  through  these  States,  I  had  no  difficulty  in  under- 
standing that  this  was  a  place  of  religious  worship. 

Devotion  alone  should  have  stopped  me  to  join  in  the  duties 
of  the  congregation ;  but  I  must  confess,  that  curiosity  to  hear 
the  preacher  of  such  a  wilderness  was  not  the  least  of  my 
motives.  On  entering,  I  was  struck  with  his  preternatural 
appearance.  He  wa«  a  tall  and  very  spare  old  man;  his  head, 
which  was  covered  with  a  white  linen  cap,  his  shrivelled 
hands,  and  his  voice,  were  all  shaking  under  the  influence  of 
a  palsy,  and  a  few  moments  proved  to  me  that  he  was  per- 
fectly blind.  The  first  emotions  that  touched  my  heart  were 
those  of  mingled  piety  and  veneration.  But  how  soon  were 
all  my  feelings  changed  !  The  lips  of  Plato  were  never  more 
worthy  of  a  prognostic  swarm  of  bees,  than  were  the  lips  of 
this  holv  man.  It  was  a  dav  of  the  administration  of  the 
sacrament:  and  his  subject  was,  of  course,  the  passion  of  our 
Saviour.  I  had  heard  the  subject  handled  a  thousand  times ; 
I  had  thought  it  exhausted  long  ago.  Little  did  I  suppose  that 
in  the  wild  woods  of  America,  I  was  to  meet  with  a  man  whose 
eloquence  would  give  to  this  topic  a  new  and  more  sublime 
pathos  than  I  had  ever  before  witnessed. 

As  he  descended  from  the  pulpit  to  distribute  the  myotic 
symbols,  there  was  a  peculiar,  a  more  than  human  solemnity 
in  his  air  and  manner,  which  made  my  blood  run  cold,  and  my 
whole  frame  shiver. 

He  then  drew  a  picture  of  the  sufl^enngs  of  our  Saviour;  his 
trial  before  Pilate ;  his  ascent  up  Calvary ;  his  crucifixion  and 
death.  I  knew  the  whole  history ;  but  never  until  then  had  I 
heard  the  circumstances  so  selected,  so  arranged,  so  coloured  ! 
If  was  all  new  :  and  I  seemed  to  have  heard  it  for  the  first 


REV.    DR.    WADDELL.  157 

time  in  my  life.  His  enunciation  was  so  deliberate,  that  his 
voice  trembled  on  every  syllable,  and  every  heart  in  the  assem- 
bly trembled  im  unison.  His  peculiar  phrases  had  that  force 
of  description,  that  the  original  scene  appeared  to  be  at  that 
time  acting  before  our  eyes.  We  saw  the  very  faces  of  the 
Jews ;  the  staring,  frightful  distortions  of  malice  and  rage. 
We  saw  the  buffet :  my  soul  kindled  with  a  flame  of  indig- 
nation, and  my  hands  were  involuntarily  and  convulsively 
clenched. 

But  when  he  came  to  touch  on  the  patience,  the  forgiving 
me»ekness  of  our  Saviour;  when  he  drew,  to  the  life,  his 
blessed  eyes  streaming  in  tears  to  heaven ;  his  voice  breathing 
to  God  a  soft  and  gentle  prayer  of  pardon  on  his  enemies, 
"  Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what  they  do !"  the 
voice  of  the  preacher,  which  had  all  along  faltered,  grew 
fainter  and  fainter,  until  his  utterance  being  entirely  obstructed 
by  the  force  of  his  feelings,  he  raised  his  handkerchief  to  his 
eyes,  and  burst  into  a  loud  and  irrepressible  flood  of  grief. 
The  effect  was  inconceivable.  The  whole  house  resounded 
with  the  mingled  groans  and  shrieks  of  the  congregation. 

It  was  some  time  before  the  tumult  had  subsided  so  far  as  to 
permit  him  to  proceed.  Indeed,  judging  by  the  usual  but 
fallacious  standard  of  my  own  weakness,  I  began  to  be  very 
uneasy  for  the  situation  of  the  preacher ;  for  I  could  not 
conceive  how  he  would  be  able  to  let  his  audience  down  from 
the  height  to  which  he  had  wound  them,  without  impairing  the 
solemnity  and  dignity  of  his  subject,  or  perhaps  shocking  them 
by  the  abruptness  of  his  fall.  But — no ;  the  descent  was  as 
beautiful  and  sublime  as  the  elevation  had  been  rapid  and 
enthusiastic. 

The  first  sentence  with  which  he  broke  the  awful  silence  was 
a  quotation  from  Rousseau  : — "  Socrates  died  like  a  philosopher, 
but  Jesus  Christ  like  a  God !" 

I  despair  of  giving  you  any  idea  of  the  effect  produced  by 

14 


158  THE    AMERICAN    CLEKGY 

this  short  sentence,  unless  you  could  perfectly  conceive  th( 
whole  manner  of  the  man,  as  well  as  the  peculiar  crisis  in  the 
discourse.  Never  before  did  I  completely  understand  what 
Demosthenes  meant  by  laying  such  stress  on  delivery.  You 
are  to  bring  before  you  the  venerable  figure  of  the  preacher ; 
liis  blindness  constantly  recalling  to  your  recollection  old 
Homer,  Ossian,  and  Milton,  and  associating  with  his  perform- 
ance the  melancholy  grandeur  of  their  geniuses  ;  you  are  to 
imagine  that  you  hear  his  slow,  solemn,  well-accented  enun- 
ciation, and  his  voice  of  affecting,  trembling  melody  ;  you  are 
to  remember  the  pitch  of  passion  and  enthusiasm  to  which  the 
congregation  were  raised;  and  then  the  few  moments  of  por- 
tentous, death-like  silence  which  reigned  throughout  the  house ; 
the  preacher,  removing  his  white  handkerchief  from  his  aged 
face,  (even  yet  wet  from  the  recent  torrent  of  his  tears,)  and 
slowly  stretching  forth  the  palsied  hand  which  holds  it,  begins 
the  sentence,  "  Socrates  died  like  a  philosopher," — then  paus- 
ing, raising  his  other  hand,  pressing  them  both,  clasped  toge- 
ther, with  warmth  and  energy  to  his  breast,  lifting  his  "  sight- 
less holes"  to  heaven,  and  pouring  his  whole  soul  into  his  tre- 
mulous voice — "  but  Jesus  Christ — like  a  God  !"  If  he  had 
been  indeed  and  in  truth  an  angel  of  light,  the  effect  could 
could  scarcely  have  been  more  divine.  Whatever  I  had  been 
able  to  conceive  of  the  sublimity  of  Massillon,  or  the  force  of 
Bourdalone,  had  fallen  far  short  of  the  power  which  I  felt 
from  the  delivery  of  this  simple  sentence 

If  this  description  gives  you  the  impre^ion  that  this  incom- 
parable minister  had  any  thing  of  shallow,  theatrical  trick  in 
his  manner,  it  does  him  great  injustice.  I  have  never  seen  in 
any  other  orator,  such  a  union  of  simplicity  and  majesty.  He 
has  not  a  gesture,  an  attitude,  or  an  accent,  to  which  he  does 
not  seem  forced  by  the  sentiment  he  is  expressing.  His  mind 
is  too  serious,  too  earnest,  too  solicitous,  and  at  the  same  time 
too  dignified,  to  stoop  to  artifice.  Although  as  far  removed  from 


PETER,  THE  INDIAN  TREACHER.  159 

ostentation  as  a  man  can  be,  yet  it  is  clear,  from  the  train,  the 
style,  and  substance  of  his  thoughts,  that  he  is  not  only  a  very 
polite  scholar,  but  a  man  of  extensive  and  profound  erudition. 
I  was  forcibly  struck  with  a  short,  yet  beautiful  character  which 
he  drew  of  Sir  Robert  Boyle ;  he  spoke  of  him  as  if  "  his 
noble  mind  had,  even  before  death,  divested  herself  of  all  in- 
fluence from  his  frail  tabernacle  of  flesh ;"  and  called  him, 
in  his  peculiarly  emphatic  and  impressive  manner,  "  a  pure 
intelligence ;  the  link  between  men  and  angels." 


PETER,  THE   INDIAN   PREACHER. 

The  following  anecdote  equally  illustrates  the  genius  and 
talent  of  the  speaker  to  whom  it  relates,  and  the  usefulness  of 
Mr.  Kirkland,  the  honoured  missionary  under  whose  labours 
he  had  received  his  Christian  instruction. 

While  Mr.  Kirkland  was  a  missionary  to  the  Oneidas,  being 
unwell,  he  was  unable  one  Sabbath  afternoon  to  preach,  and 
told  Good  Peter,  one  of  the  head-men,  that  he  must  address 
the  congregation.  Peter  modestly  and  reluctantly  consented. 
After  a  few  words  of  introduction,  he  began  a  discourse  on  the 
character  of  the  Saviour.  "What,  my  brethren,"  said  he, 
"are  the  views  which  you  form  of  the  character  of  Jesus? 
You  will  answer,  perhaps,  that  he  was  a  man  of  singular  bene- 
volence. You  will  tell  me,  that  he  proved  this  to  be  his  cha- 
racter by  the  nature  of  the  miracles  which  he  wrought.  All 
these,  you  will  say,  were  kind  in  the  extreme.  He  created 
bread  to  feed  thousands  who  were  ready  to  perish.  He  raised 
to  life  the  son  of  a  poor  woman  who  was  a  widow,  and  to 
whom  his  labours  were  necessary  for  her  support  in  old  age. 
Are  these,  then,  your  only  views  of  the  Saviour  ?     I  tell  you 


161)  THE    AMERICAN    CLER<3Y. 

they  are  lame.     When  Jesus  came  into  our  world,  he  threw 
his  blanket  around  him,  but  the  God  was  within  !" 

This  anecdote  was  related   to  the  late  Dr.  Dwight,  by  Mr. 
Kirkland  himself. 


tREV.  Z.  ADAMS. 


The  Rev.  Z.  Adams  was  well  acquainted  with  a  neighbour- 
ing minister,  a  very  mild,  inoffensive  man,  and  the  exchange 
of  labours  for  a  Sabbath  was  proposed.  Knowing  Mr.  Adams's 
peculiar  bluntness  of  character,  the  minister  said,  "  You  will 
find  some  panes  of  glass  broken  in  the  pulpit  window,  and  pos- 
sibly you  may  suffer  from  the  cold.  The  cushion,  too,  is  in  a 
bad  condition ;  but  I  beg  of  you  not  to  say  any  thing  to  my 
people  on  the  subject ;  they  are  poor."  "  O  no  I  O  no !"  said 
Mr.  Adams.  But  before  he  left  home  he  filled  a  bag  with  rags, 
and  took  it  with  him.  When  he  had  been  in  the  pulpit  a  short 
lime,  feeling  somewhat  incommoded  by  the  too  free  circulation 
of  air,  he  deliberately  took  from  the  bag  a  handful  or  two  of 
rags,  and  stuffed  them  into  the  window.  Towards  the  close 
of  his  discourse,  which  was  upon  the  duties  of  a  people  to- 
wards their  clergyman,  he  became  very  animated,  and  pur- 
posely brought  down  both  fists  with  a  tremendous  force  upon 
the  pulpit  cushion.  The  feathers  flow  in  all  directions,  and  the 
cushion  was  pretty  much  used  up.  He  instantly  checked  the 
current  of  his  thoughts,  and  simply  exclaiming,  "Why,  hofv 
these  feathers  fly !"  proceeded.  He  had  fulfilled  his  pro- 
mise of  not  addressing  the  society  on  the  subject,  but  had 
faught  them  a  lesson  not  to  be  misunderstood.  On  the  next 
Sabbath  the  window  and  the  cushion  were  found  in  excellent 
repair. 


A    GOOD    PREACHER.  161 


A  CLERGYMAN  IN  MASSACHUSETTS. 

About  one  hundred  years  ago,  a  clergyman  in  Massachu 
setts  had  a  respectable  neighbour  belonging  to  his  parish,  who 
was  notoriously  addicted  to  lying :  not  from  any  malicious  or 
pecuniary  motives,  but  from  a  perverse  habit.  The  minister 
was  every  day  grieved  by  the  evil  example  of  his  neighbour. 
This  person  was  Captain  Clark,  a  friend  of  the  clergyman  in 
all  temporal  matters,  and  a  man  useful  in  the  parish.  But  his 
example  was  a  source  of  much  inquietude  to  the  divine.  He 
was  determined  to  preach  a  sermon  for  the  occasion.  Accord- 
ingly he  took  for  his  text,  "  Lie  not  one  to  another."  He  ex- 
patiated on  the  folly,  the  wickedness,  and  evil  example  of  lying 
in  such  a  pointed  manner,  that  nearly  every  person  present 
thought  that  the  clergyman  was  aiming  at  the  Captain.  The 
service  being  ended,  some  one  said  to  the  captain,  "What  do 
you  think  of  the  sermon  ?"  "  Excellent,  excellent,"  he  re- 
plied ;  "  but  I  could  not  for  my  life  keep  my  eyes  off  old  mo- 
ther Symington,  thinking  how  she  must  feel,  for  he  certainly 
meant  her."  This  story  was  told  by  a  daughter  of  the  cler- 
gyman, who  heard  the  sermon  ;  to  which  she  added,  "When 
you  hear  any  folly  or  vice  exhibited  from  the  pulpit,  before  you 
look  out  for  a  mother  Symington,  look  within  yourself,  and  see 
if  Captain  Clark  is  not  there."  Her  advice  had  some  effect,  and 
may  have  again. 


A  GOOD  PREACHEK. 


It  has  been  well  remarked  that  no  individual  is  benefited  by 
preaching,  till  he  supposes  that  it  means  hiin.  It  sometimes 
appears  so  personal  to  wicked  men,  that  they  feel  as  though 
they  were  just  about  to  be  called  out  by  name  before  the  con- 

14* 


162  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

gregatlon.  A  minister  was  once  preaching,  and  when  de- 
scribing certain  characters,  said,  "  If  I  were  omniscient,  I  could 
call  out  by  name  the  very  persons  that  answer  to  this  picture." 
A  man  called  out,  "Name  me  !"  and  he  looked  as  though  he 
were  going  to  sink  into  the  earth.  He  afterwards  said  that  he 
had  no  idea  of  speaking  out,  but  the  minister  described  him  so 
perfectly  that  he  really  thought  he  was  going  to  call  him  by 
name.  The  minister  did  not  know  that  there  was  such  a  man 
in  the  .world. 


REV.  MR.  S. 


The  Cincinnati  Advertiser,  some  time  since,  gave  an  account 
of  an  eccentric  clergyman,  who,  not  being  a  very  animated  and 
interesting  preacher,  was  often  deserted  by  his  flock,  at  least 
by  parts  of  them,  on  the  Sabbath.  The  old  gentleman  finally 
adopted  some  rather  novel  methods  of  keeping  the  delinquents 
up  to  the  point  of  duty. 

When  any  family  was  absent  two  or  three  Sabbaths  in  suc- 
cession, Mr.  S.  would  publicly  state  to  the  congregation  that  as 

Mr. 's  family  had  been  for  some  time  absent  from  public 

worship,  he  presumed  there  was  sickness  or  trouble  in  their 
household,  and  would  appoint  a  prayer-meeting  at  their  house 
on  the  next  Tuesday  afternoon. 

The  old  gentleman  on  one  occasion  also  caught  the  wander- 
ers by  the  following  piece  of  harmless  guile  : — On  one  Sab- 
bath afternoon,  he  told  his  people  that  he  should  take  a  journey 
the  next  day,  and  be  absent  for  a  short  time ;  but  he  would 
take  care  that  some  person  should  come  from  Boston,  and  sup 
ply  his  desk  the  next  Sabbath.  On  the  next  Sabbath  morning 
the  meeting-house  was  filled.  The  whole  town  turned  out  to 
hear  the  Boston  minister.  They  waited  a  while  in  eager  ex- 
pectation of  his  entrance,  when  in  marched  the  Rev.  Mr.  S., 


REV.    I'KESIDEJNT    EDWARDS.  163 

and  walked  up  the  broad  aisle,  as  he  had  been  accustomed  to 
do  for  many  years  gone  by.  On  ascending  his  pulpit,  he 
smiled  graciously  upon  his  large  audience,  and  said ;  "  I  am 
glad,  my  dear  hearers,  that  I  have  got  you  out — you're  all 
here  as  you  ought  to  be — and  I  hope  your  minds  are  prepared 
to  receive  instruction — I  came  from  Boston  yesterday  myself." 


REV.  PRESIDENT  EDWARDS. 


This  distinguished  man  was  an  eminent  proof  that  power- 
ful preaching  consists  in  somewhat  more  than  manner,  and 
that  true  eloquence  is  truth  spoken  with  feeling.  It  is  believed 
that  no  preacher,  who  has  appeared  in  this  country,  ever 
engrossed  the  attention  of  his  audience  so  often,  so  long,  and 
to  so  great  a  degree,  except  Mr.  Whitefield.  Yet  his  voice 
was  low,  his  style  slovenly  and  uncouth,  and  he  was  without 
gesture.  During  the  first  third  part  of  his  ministry,  he  read 
his  sermons ;  the  remaining  part  of  his  life,  he  preached  either 
from  short  notes  or  extemporaneously.  The  propriety  of  his 
pronunciation,  his  earnestness,  his  gravity,  and  his  singular 
solemnity,  controlled,  in  the  most  absolute  manner,  the  minds 
of  those  who  heard  him.  Mr.  Hooker,  who  succeeded  him — 
who  was  distinguished  for  his  learning,  good  sense,  and  ele- 
gance of  mind  and  manners,  as  well  as  for  his  moral  worth — 
well  said  to  Dr.  Dwight,  that  eloquence  is  so  variously  under- 
stood and  defined,  that  it  is  difficult  to  determine  what  is 
intended  by  it ;  but  that,  if  it  consisted  in  making  strong  im- 
pressions of  the  subject  of  a  discourse  on  the  minds  of  an 
audience,  Mr.  Edwards  was  the  most  eloquent  man  he  ever 
knew.  Mr.  Strong,  afterwards  Professor  of  Mathematics  and 
Natural  Philosophy  in  Yale  College,  in  early  youth  heard  Mr, 
Edwards  deliver  the  sermons  which  now  constitute  his  "  His- 


164  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY 

tory  of  Redemption."  He  says  that  his  mind  was  from  the 
beginning  deeply  interested  in  the  subject ;  as  it  advanced,  his 
feelings  were  more  and  more  engaged,  till,  when  the  preacher 
came  to  a  consideration  of  the  final  judgment,  his  mind  was 
wrought  up  to  such  a  pitch  that  he  fully  expected  the  awful 
scene  to  be  unfolded  on  that  day,  and  in  that  place.  He  waited 
with  the  deepest  and  most  solemn  solicitude,  to  hear  the  trum- 
pet sound  and  the  archangel  call ;  to  see  the  graves  open,  the 
dead  arise,  and  the  Judge  descend  in  the  glory  of  his  Father, 
with  all  his  holy  angels ;  and  was  deeply  disappointed  when 
the  day  terminated,  and  left  the  world  in  its  usual  state  of 
tranquillity. 


The  following  narrative  of  this  extraordinary  man  cannot 
but  prove  interesting  : — 

'While  the  people  in  the  neighbouring  towns  were  in  great 
distress  for  their  souls,  the  inhabitants  of  Enfield  were  very 
secure,  loose,  and  vain.  A  lecture  had  been  appointed  there ; 
and  the  neighbouring  people  were  so  affected  at  the  thought- 
lessness of  the  inhabitants,  and  in  such  fears  that  God  would, 
in  his  righteous  judgment,  pass  them  by,  while  the  Divine 
showers  were  falling  all  around  them,  as  to  be  prostrate  before 
Him  a  considerable  part  of  the  evening  previous,  supphcating 
mercy  for  their  souls.  When  the  appointed  time  for  the  lecture 
came,  a  number  of  the  neighbouring  ministers  attended,  and 
some  from  a  distance.  When  they  went  into  the  meeting- 
house, the  appearance  of  the  assembly  was  thoughtless  and 
vain.  The  people  hardly  conducted  themselves  with  common 
decency.  Edwards  preached.  His  plain,  unpretending  manner, 
both  in  language  and  delivery,  and  his  established  reputation 
for  holiness  and  knowledge  of  the  truth,  forbade  the  suspicion 
that  any  trick  of  oratory  would  be  used  to  mislead  his  hearers. 
He  began  in  the  clear,  careful,  demonstrative  style  of  a  teacher, 


A   METHODIST    CLERGYMAN.  165 

solicitous  for  the  result  of  his  effort,  and  anxious  that  every 
step  of  his  argument  should  be  clearly  and  fully  understood. 
His  te  t  was  Deut.  xxxii.  35 ;  "  Their  foot  shall  slide  in  due 
time."  As  he  advanced  in  unfolding  the  meaning  of  the  text, 
the  most  careful  logic  brought  him  and  his  hearers  to  con- 
clusions, which  the  most  tremendous  imagery  could  but  inade- 
quately express.  His  most  terrific  descriptions  of  the  doom 
and  danger  of  the  impenitent,  only  enabled  them  to  apprehend 
more  clearly  the  truths  which  he  had  compelled  them  to 
believe.  They  seemed  to  be,  not  the  product  of  the  imagina- 
tion, but  what  they  really  were,  a  part  of  the  argument.  The 
effect  was  as  might  be  expected.  Trumbull  informs  us  that 
"  before  the  assembly  was  ended,  the  congregation  appeared 
deeply  impressed  and  bowed  with  an  awful  conviction  of  their 
sin  and  danger.  There  was  such  a  breathing  of  distress  and 
weeping,  that  the  preacher  was  obliged  to  speak  to  the  people 
and  desire  silence,  that  he  might  be  heard.  This  was  the 
beginning  of  the  same  great  and  prevailing  concern  in  that 
place,  with  which  the  colony  in  general  was  visited. 


A  METHODIST  CLERGYMAN. 


A  Methodist  preacher,  at  a  camp-meeting  held  in  Massa- 
chusetts, at  the  conclusion  of  his  sermon,  took  occasion  to 
impress  upon  his  hearers  the  propriety  of  contributing  freely 
of  their  substance  for  the  benefit  of  the  church  ;  and  urged 
them  to  make  the  "  collection,  which  was  then  about  to  be 
taken  up,  a  good  one."  After  the  collection  had  been  made, 
he  arose  with  great  solemnity,  and  looking  into  the  contribution 
boxes,  which,  although  they  contained  a  great  number  of 


166  THE    A31ERICAN    CLERGY. 

cents,  showed  a  lamentable  dearth  of  silver,  exclaimed,  with 
much  gravity,  "  I  perceive  that  Alexander  the  coppersviith 
hath  done  us  much  harm:'''' 


AN  ECCENTRIC  CLERGYMAN. 

A  SHREWD,  eccentric,  but  withal  talented  preacher,  of  un- 
bounded influence  among  his  people,  once  administered  reproof 
in  a  very  effectual  manner.  One  warm  summer  afternoon,  his 
congregation,  like  some  other  congregations,  got  drowsy,  and 
not  a  few  went  off*  into  a  regular  doze.  The  orator  went  on, 
apparently  undisturbed  by  the  apathy,  and  finished  his  dis- 
course. He  paused ;  the  silence,  as  is  often  the  case  after  the 
hum-drum  of  a  not  very  animated  preacher,  roused  up  the 
congregation  :  some  rubbed  their  eyes,  and  all  stared  ;  for  there 
stood  the  minister,  sermon  in  hand.  He  waited  till  he  saw 
them  all  fairly  awake,  and  then  very  calmly  said,  "  My  good 
friends,  this  sermon  cost  m«  a  good  deal  of  labour,  rather  more 
than  usual ;  you  do  not  seem  to  have  paid  to  it  quite  as  much 
attention  as  it  deserves.  I  think  I  will  go  over  it  again ;"  and 
he  was  as  good  as  his  word,  from  text  to  exhortation. 


REV.  PRESIDENT  DAVIES. 


When  Mr.  Davies  was  yet  under  thirty  years  of  age,  he 
was  induced  to  accompany  the  Rev.  Gilbert  Tennant  to  Eng- 
land, to  solicit  donations  for  the  college  of  New  Jersey,  of 
which  he  afterwards  became  the  president. 

His  fame,  as  a  pulpit  orator,  was  so  great  in  London,  that  it 


REV.    BENJAMIN    HARVEY.  167 

reached  the  ears  of  King  George  II.,  who  expressed  a  strong 
desire  to  hear  him.  This  was  brought  about ;  and  Mr.  D. 
preached  before  a  splendid  audience,  composed  of  the  royal 
family  and  many  of  the  nobility.  It  is  further  said,  that  while 
Mr.  D.  was  preaching,  the  king  was,  at  different  times,  seen 
speaking  to  those  around  him,  who  were  seen  also  to  smile. 
Mr.  Davies  observed  it,  and  was  shocked  at  what  he  thought 
was  irreverence  in  the  house  of  God,  utterly  inexcusable  in 
one,  the  influence  of  whose  example  was  so  great.  After 
pausing,  and  looking  sternly  in  that  direction  several  times, 
the  preacher  proceeded  in  his  discourse ;  but  the  same  conduct 
was  still  observed.  The  American  preacher  then  exclaimed  : 
"  When  the  lion  roars,  the  beasts  of  the  forest  tremble ;  and 
when  King  Jesus  speaks,  the  princes  of  the  earth  should  keep 
silence !"  The  king  is  said  to  have  given  a  significant  but 
courteous  bow  to  the  preacher,  and  to  have  sat  very  com- 
posedly and  reverently  during  the  rest  of  the  service. 

The  king  is  said  to  have  been  enraptured  with  the  preacher's 
manner  and  eloquence,  and  to  have  been  expressing  his  delight 
to  those  around  him.  He  sent  for  the  preacher,  who  repeated 
his  visit,  and  received  from  the  king  a  handsome  donation  for 
the  college. 


REV.  BENJAMIN  HARVEY. 


The  following  anecdote,  of  probably  the  oldest  clergyman 
of  his  day,  is  copied  from  the  New  York  Baptist  Register,  pub- 
lished at  Utica,  in  1845.     The  venerable  man  died  in  1847. 

Elder  Benjamin  Harvey,  who  is  to  open  the  religious  ser- 
vices at  the  meeting-house,  on  the  fourth,  is  now  in  the  one  hun  • 
dred  and  eleventh  year  of  his  age,  and  still  retains  his  facul- 
ties to  an   astonishing  degree.     His  health  is  excellent.     He 


168  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

walks  about  with  great  ease,  and  to  all  human  appearance 
may  last  several  years  longer.  On  Lord's-day  of  last  week 
we  had  the  privilege  of  conversing  with  him  in  regard  to  his 
employment  during  the  winter.  He  informed  us  that  since 
December  last,  he  had  preached  every  Sabbath,  and  several 
times  during  the  week  likewise. 

In  the  afternoon,  at  the  request  of  the  pastor  of  Broad  Sreet 
Baptist  church,  he  made  the  first  prayer,  which  he  prefaced 
substantially  with  these  remarks :  "We  are  now  about  to  pray 
— but  we  shall  not  change  the  mind  of  God  by  our  prayer,  if 
we  were  to  pray  until  we  drop  into  our  graves.  God  will  not 
be  altered  by  it.  He  is  perfectly  right,  and  needs  no  alteration. 
If  there  is  any  alteration,  it  must  be  in  us ;  and  our  prayer 
must  be  that  we  may  be  penitent  and  conformed  to  his  will, 
and  find  mercy  through  Jesus  Christ."  He  said  he  had  two 
objects  to  pray  to  ;  one  was  the  congregation,  and  the  other  the 
great  Father  in  heaven — and  the  prayer  to  the  congregation  is, 
"  'We  pray  you  in  Christ's  stead,  be  ye  reconciled  to  God.' 
And  now,  let  us  unite  in  prayer  to  Him,  that  he  would  grant 
us  poor  sinners  the  mercy  we  need." 

In  the  evening  he  preached  a  sermon  of  fifty-five  minutes, 
from  the  passage  in  Revelations,  "  I  saw  an  angel  flying 
through  the  midst  of  heaven,  having  the  everlasting  gospel  to 
preach,"  and  was  listened  to  with  interest  and  astonishment. 
Though  it  was  somewhat  scattering,  to  use  a  common  phrase, 
yet  there  was  manifestly  method  peculiar  to  himself,  and  many 
thoughts  truly  valuable.  His  strength  of  lungs,  and  accuracy 
of  Scripture  quotation,  were  indeed  wonderful ;  and  his  vigour 
of  action,  and  his  great  animation,  are  not  of^en  surpassed  by 
ministers  in  the  meridian  of  life.  The  Bible  must  have  been 
closely  studied  by  him  in  former  years.  His  animation  was 
such  frequently,  in  speaking  of  the  blessedness  of  the  Re- 
deemer, that  he  would  clap  his  hands  under  the  exercise.  He 
referred  to  the  two  previous  sermons  in   his  opening,  that  he 


A    XEW    ENGLAND    CLEBaiTJlAN.  169 

had  preached  in  the  same  pulpit,  and  gave  the  main  division 
with  astonishinc  accuracy;  showing  his  memory  as  well  as  his 
other  facuiiics  remtii'Kably  sound,  and  that  he  is  indeed  the 
greatest  wonder  of  the  age. 


A  NUW  ENGLAND  CLERGYMAN. 

An  eminent  minister  gave,  in  one  of  his  sermons,  the  foU 
lowing  illustration  of  the  Divine  dealings  with  sinners. 

A  clergyman  sitting  in  his  study,  saw  some  boys  in  his  gar- 
den stealing  melons.  He  quietly  arose,  and  walking  into  his 
garden,  called  them  ;  "Boys,  boys."  They  immediately  fled 
with  the  utmost  precipitation,  tearing  through  the  shrubbery, 
and  tumbling  over  the  fences.  "  Boys,"  cried  out  the  gentle- 
man, "  stop,  do  not  be  afraid.  You  may  have  as  many  me- 
lons as  you  want.    I  have  more  than  1  know  what  to  do  with." 

The  boys,  urged  by  the  consciousness  of  guilt,  fled  with  in- 
creasing speed.  They  did  not  like  to  trust  themselves  in  the 
gentleman's  hands ;  neither  did  they  exactly  relish  the  idea  of 
receiving  favors  from  one  whose  garden  they  were  robbing. 

The  clergyman  continued  to  entreat  them  to  stop,  assuring 
them  that  they  should  not  be  hurt,  and  that  they  might  have 
as  many  melons  as  they  wished  for.  But  the  very  sound  of 
his  voice  added  wings  to  their  speed.  They  scampered  on  in 
every  direction,  with  as  determined  an  avoidance  as  though  the 
gentleman  was  pursuing  them  with  a  horsewhip.  He  deter- 
mined, however,  that  they  should  be  convinced  that  he  was  sin- 
cere in  his  offers,  and  therefore  pursued  them.  Two  little  fel- 
lows who  could  not  climb  over  the  fence  were  taken.  He  led 
them  back,  telling  them  they  were  welcome  to  melons  when- 
ever they  wanted  any,  and  giving  to  each   of  them   a   couple, 

15 


170  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

allowed  them  to  go  home.  He  sent  by  them  a  message  to  the 
other  boys,  that  whenever  they  wanted  any  melons,  they  were 
welcome  to  them  if  they  would  but  come  to  him. 

The  other  boys,  when  they  heard  of  the  favors  with  which 
the  two  had  been  laden,  were  loud  in  the  expression  of  their 
indignation.  They  accused  the  clergyman  of  partiality,  in 
givmg  to  some  without  giving  to  all;  and  when  reminded  that 
they  would  not  accept  of  his  offers,  but  ran  away  from  him  as 
fast  as  they  could,  they  replied,  "What  of  that  ?  He  caught 
these  two  boys,  and  why  should  he  have  selected  them  instead 
of  the  rest  of  us?  If  he  had  only  run  a  little  faster,  he  might 
have  caught  us.     It  was  mean  in  him  to  show  such  partiality." 

Again  they  were  reminded  that  the  clergyman  was  ready  to 
serve  them  as  he  did  the  other  two  he  caught,  and  give  them 
as  many  melons  as  they  wanted,  if  they  would  only  go  and 
ask  him  for  them. 

Still*  the  boys  would  not  go  near  him,  but  accused  the  gene- 
rous  man  of  mjustice  and  partiality  in  doing  for  two,  that 
which  he  did  not  do  for  all. 

So  it  is  with  the  sinner.  God  finds  all  guilty,  and  invites 
them  to  come  to  him  and  be  forgiven,  and  receive  the  richest 
blessings  heaven  can  afford.  They  all  run  from  him,  and  the 
louder  he  calls,  the  more  furious  do  they  rush  in  their  endea- 
vours to  escape.  By  his  grace  he  pursues,  and  some  he  over- 
takes. He  loads  them  with  favours,  and  sends  them  back  to 
invite  their  fellow-sinners  to  return  and  receive  the  same. 
They  all  with  one  accord  refuse  to  come,  and  yet  never  cease 
to  abuse  his  mercy  and  insult  his  goodness.  They  say,  "Why 
does  God  select  some  and  not  others?  Why  does  he  overtake 
others  who  are  just  as  bad  as  we,  and  allow  us  to  escape?  This 
election  of  some  and  not  others,  is  unjust  and  partial." 

And  when  the  minister  of  God  replies,  "  The  invitation  is 
extended  to  you  :  whosoever  will,  let  him  come  and  take  of  the 


COLOURED    PREACHERS.  171 

water  of  life  freely,"  the  sinner  heeds  it  not,  but  goes  on  in 
his  sins,  still  complaining  of  the  injustice  and  partiality  of 
God,  in  saving  some  and  not  saving  all. 


C^OURED  PREACHERS. 

A  COLOURED  preacher  in  Philadelphia,  a  few  years  since, 
showed  his  correct  theology  and  his  ingenuity,  in  telling  his 
auditory,  in  language  and  style  they  could  well  comprehend, 
an  important  truth. — "  My  dear  breddren,  de  liberal  man,  what 
gibs  away  his  property,  ain't  gwine  to  heaben  for  dat,  no  more 
dan  some  of  you  wicked  sinners.  Charity  ain't  no  good  wid- 
out  righteousness.  It  is  like  beef-steak  widout  gravy ; — dat  is 
to  say,  no  good,  no  how." 


An  agent  of  one  of  our  Missionary  Societies,  not  long 
since,  visited  and  addressed  a  coloured  church  in  Kentucky. 
When  the  collection  was  about  to  be  taken,  the  pastor,  himself 
a  coloured  man,  arose  and  said,  "  My  dear  brethren,  when  we 
have  our  meetings  for  prayer,  you  are  generally  present,  and 
I  am  pleased  to  see  this  house  filled.  Whenever,  at  such  times, 
any  thing  is  said  about  the  wants  of  the  heathen,  and  the  duty 
of  praying  and  giving  for  the  conversion  of  tlie  world,  you 
give  me  groans  of  approbation.  Now  I  wish  you  to  come  for- 
ward with  your  money,  or  I  shall  conclude  that  you  did  not 
groan  honestly." 


An  African  preacher,  speaking  from  the  words,  "What  is  a 
man  profited  if  he  gain  the  whole  world  and  lose  his  own 
soul?"  mentioned,  among  other  things,  that  many  lost  their 


172  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

souls  by  being  too  charitable !  Seeing  the  congregation  as- 
tonished beyond  measure  at  his  saying  it.  he  very  emphatically 
repeated  it, and  then  proceeded  to  explain  his  meaning.  "Many 
people,"  said  he,  "  attend  meeting,  and  hear  the  sermon  ;  and 
when  it  is  over  they  proceed  to  divide  it  out  among  the  congre- 
gation ;  this  part  vi^as  for  that  man,  that  part  for  that  woman  ; 
and  such  denunciations  were  for  such  persons;  these  threats  for 
you  sinners — and  so,"  continued  the  shrewd  African,  "  they 
give  away  the  whole  sermon^  and  keep  none  for  ihemselvesy 


REV.  DR.  J.  M.  MASON. 


Many  facts  are  related  of  the  power  of  Dr.  Mason*s  pulpit 
eloquence.  His  mind  was  of  the  highest  order,  his  theology 
Calvinistic,  and  his  style  of  eloquence  irresistible  as  a  torrent. 
When  the  distinguished  Robert  Hall  heard  him  deliver  his 
celebrated  discourse  on  Messiah*s  Throne^  at  a  missionary 
meeting  in  London,  in  1802,  it  is  said  he  exclaimed,  "I  can 
never  preach  again !" 


REV.  DR.  F. 


An  intelligent  writer  says  : — 

In  one  of  my  college  years,  a  fellow-pupil  suddenly  died. 
On  the  Sabbath  following,  the  venerated  Dr.  F.  connected  his 
discourse  with  this  event,  which  was  itself  preaching  very 
solemnly  to  some  of  us.  This  was  a  sentence:  "Young  mnn, 
thou  art  now  strong  and  full  of  health  ;  but  I  will  tell  thee,  the 
spade  which  shall  dig  thy  grave  may  be  already  forged — thy 
winding-she^t  be  lying  in  yonder  store — and  that  clock  (point- 


REV.    MR.    STEVENS.  173 

itig  to  the  one  on  the  gallery)  he  counting  out  the  moments  in 
the  last  Sabbath-day  of  thy  life.'''*  He  paused.  It  was  the 
stillness  of  the  grave,  for  a  minute :  but,  oh  !  the  tick  of  ^^  that 
clock  /"  It  entered  my  soul ;  it  seemed  like  the  sound  of  the 
keys  in  the  doors  of  the  eternal  world.  No  voice,  no  speech, 
could  have  searched  the  audience  as  did  that  awful  voice  of 
our  departing  moments.  Since  that  day,  I  have  ever  looked 
seriously  upon  the  face,  and  listened  solemnly  to  the  voice,  of 
the  sanctuary  clock. 


REV.  MR.  STEVENS. 


A  FEW  years  since,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stevens,  of  Boston,  deli- 
vered a  sermon  at  Newburyport,  before  the  "  Society  for  the 
Relief  of  Aged  Females ;"  which  he  concluded,  by  relating  a 
part  of  the  history  of  a  family  in  Philadelphia,  with  which  he 
was  intimately  acquainted. 

It  consisted  of  the  parents  and  four  children.  The  husband 
was  in  an  employment  which  enabled  him  to  maintain  his 
family  comfortably,  and  lay  by  something  as  a  provision  for 
old  age.  In  the  midst  of  his  joys,  he  was  seized  with  con- 
sumption, nearly  spent  his  all,  and  died.  After  his  death,  the 
mother  laboured  with  constancy  at  her  needle,  to  support  her 
children,  till  almost  incessant  efforts  brought  on  the  same  dis- 
ease, and  she  also  descended  to  the  grave.  Before  this,  how- 
ever, the  eldest  boy,  then  about  seven  years  of  age,  went  from 
door  to  door,  seeking  employment,  to  keep  the  family  from 
starvation.  Those  upon  whom  he  thus  called,  were  generally 
too  busy  to  listen  to  the  story  of  a  child.  He  at  length 
obtained  a  situation  in  the  Globe  cotton  mill,  in  Philadelphia, 
receiving  for  his  services  seventy-five  cents  a  week,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  a  younger  brother  into  the  same  establish- 

15* 


174  THB    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

merit,  who  was  paid  fifty  cents  a  week.  This  dollar  and  a 
quarter  per  week  served  for  some  time  to  sustain  the  sick 
mother  and  family.  None  interested  themselves  in  their  fate  ; 
for  their  neighbours  were  generally  vicious  and  degraded,  and 
as  poor  as  themselves.  For  a  long  period,  roasted  potatoes 
were  their  only  food,  and  the  small  pieces  of  wood  which  they 
collected  in  the  streets,  their  only  fuel. 

Finally,  a  female,  who  had  been  bridesmaid  to  the  mother, 
heard  of  her  distress,  and  sought  her  out.  Her  assistance  and 
personal  services  were  freely  given  ;  but,  alas !  it  was  now  too 
late — she  could  but  smooth  the  pillow  of  death  I  The  mother 
was  laid  in  the  grave,  by  the  side  of  her  husband,  and  the 
children  were  left  orphans.  Situations,  however,  were  obtained 
for  them,  and  at  their  meeting,  at  the  end  of  every  year,  they 
could  speak  of  increasing  prosperity.  Finally,  the  eldest  boy 
was  introduced  into  the  ministry,  and,  added  the  preacher,  "m 
the  individual  who  now  addresses  you  /" 

"  We  have  rarely,"  say  the  editors  of  the  paper  from  which 
we  transcribe  this  account,  "  witnessed  a  more  powerful  effect 
than  the  announcement  of  this  fact  produced.  It  was  as 
though  an  electric  shock  had  been  sent  through  the  whole 
audience.  So  entirely  unprepared  were  the  assembly  for  such 
a  termination ;  so  completely  had  their  sympathies  been  given 
fo  sufferers  whom  they  supposed  were  at  that  time  many  miles 
distant,  that  the  declaration  that  one  who  had  passed  through 
the  scene  in  which  their  feelings  had  been  so  strongly  enlisted 
stood  before  them,  was  unexpected,  and  in  the  highest  degree 
startling !" 


SEVERAL    CLERGYMEN.  175 


REV.  B.  STANDFORD. 


A  FEW  years  since,  a  very  interesting  religious  exercise  was 
held  at  Bridgewater,  Massachusetts,  on  the  occasion  of  Deacon 
John  Whitman's  arriving  at  the  age  of  one  hundred  years. 
The  deacon,  a  rather  tall,  stout  man,  in  good  health,  with 
mental  faculties  scarcely  affected,  excepting  his  hearing  and 
sight  failing,  occupied  an  arm-chair  in  front  of  the  pulpit.  The 
assembly  was  the  largest  ever  witnessed  in  that  house,  and 
intense  interest  was  generally  visible. 

The  Rev.  B.  Standford  preached  the  sermon,  from  2  Tim.  iv. 
6 :  "  For  I  am  now  ready  to  be  offered,  and  the  time  of  my 
departure  is  at  hand,"  and  addressed,  both  to  the  venerable 
deacon  and  to  the  congregation,  a  variety  of  important  re- 
marks and  counsels.  He  stated  that  Mr.  Whitman  was  blessed 
with  pious  parents,  and  was  from  a  child  the  subject  of  serious 
impressions.  His  mind  was  led  fully  to  embrace  the  gospel 
of  Christ,  under  the  ministry  of  the  distinguished  George 
Whitefield ;  and  that  for  seventy  years  he  had  adorned  the 
religion  of  Jesus,  during  thirty  of  which  he  had  sustained  the 
office  of  deacon. 


SEVERAL  CLERGYMEN. 


A  CLERGYMAN,  in  a  recent  discourse,  was  speaking  of  the 
practice  of  pointing  to  the  sins  and  follies  of  the  members  of 
the  churches,  as  an  excuse  for  others,  when  he  thus  illustrated 
the  evil  of  such  an  argument :  "  Ah  1"  said  he,  "  it  is  the  com- 
mon device  of  the  devil,  to  blind  the  eyes  of  his  disciples  with 
the  dust  shaken  from  the  soiled  garments  of  Christians." 


176  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


A  celebrated  divine,  who  was  remarKable  in  the  first  period 
of  his  ministry,  for  a  boisterous  mode  of  preaching,  suddenly- 
changed  his  whole  manner  in  the  pulpit,  and  adopted  a  mild 
and  dispassionate  mode  of  delivery.  One  of  his  brethren 
observing  it,  inquired  of  him  what  had  induced  him  to  make 
the  change.  He  answered,  "  When  I  was  young,  I  thought 
it  was  the  thunder  that  killed  the  people ;  but  when  I  grew 
wiser,  I  discovered  that  it  was  the  lightning — so  I  determined- 
in  future  to  thunder  less  and  lighten  more." 


A  reverend  clergyman  from  Ohio,  preaching  in  the  city  of 
Brooklyn,  New  York,  observed  two  young  ladies  talking  to- 
gether. Stopping  suddenly  in  his  discourse,  and  looking 
seriously  at  them,  he  said,  "  I  observe  two  young  ladies  in  the 
congregation,  earnestly  engaged  in  conversation ;  and  as  it  is 
not  a  mark  of  true  politeness  for  more  than  one  to  speak  at  a 
time,  in  church,  I  will  remain  silent  for  a  short  time,  to  give 
them  an  opportunity  to  finish  their  discourse,  when  I  will  re- 
sume mine^'*  The  worthy  minister,  after  standing  in  silence  a 
moment  or  two,  resumed  his  subject. 


Several  years  ago,  a  town  in  New  England  was  blessed  with 
a  revival  of  religion.  One  evening,  a  lady  and  her  little 
daughter  attended  a  meeting ;  and  while  the  minister  was 
speaking  of  the  neglect  of  family  duties,  of  reading  the  Scrip- 
tures, and  of  family  prayer,  the  little  daughter,  who  listened 
attentively,  and  perceived  that  the  preacher  was  describing  a 
neglect  that  she  had  noticed  herself,  whispered  to  her  mother, 


RBV.  DR.  STANFORD.  177 

*'Ma,   is   Mr.  talking   to   you?"     This    was   powerful 

preaching  to  the  mother ;  she  was  immediately  brought  under 
deep  convictions  of  sin,  which  resulted  in  her  hopeful  con- 
version to  God. 


REV.  PROFESSOR  SHEPPARD. 


The  Rev.  Professor  Sheppard,  of  Bangor,  was  engaged  to 
preach  in  the  First  Baptist  Church,  at  the  period  of  the  occur- 
rence of  a  great  flood.  He  arrived  at  the  church  with  some 
difficulty,  and  finding  but  few  there,  in  the  general  consterna- 
tion, he  offered  prayer,  and  then  addressed  them,  in  a  manner 
which  must,  though  short,  be  regarded  as  truly  sublime : — 

"  God  himself  has  the  audience  of  the  people  to-day ;  and 
while  He  speaks,  his  ministers  may  well  keep  silence." 


REV.  DR.  STANFORD. 


The  late  Rev.  Dr.  Stanford,  of  New  YorK,  on  a  particular 
occasion  preached  a  sermon  from  a  passage  in  the  Canticles : 
"  Let  my  beloved  come  into  his  garden,  and  eat  his  pleasant 
fruits."  After  he  had,  in  a  very  interesting  manner,  described 
d  beautiful  garden,  and  spoke  of  the  variety  and  fragrance  of  its 
shrubs,  flowers,  trees  and  fruits,  and  then  applied  the  subject 
to  the  state  of  the  Christian  church ;  as  he  descended  from  the 
pulpit,  one  of  the  deacons  said  to  him,  "  Well,  brother  Stan- 
ford, you  have  laid  out  the  garden  in  due  form,  and  you  have 
described  the  varieties  and  excellences  of  its  productions ;  but 
where  is  your  fence?"  With  his  usual  promptness  he  replied, 
*<  Oh !  I  lefl  that  for  you  deacons  to  put  up ;  and  see  that  you 
keep  it  in  good  order." 


178  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


A  UNIVERSALIST  MINISTER. 

It  is  not  often  we  recommend  the  neglect  of  the  pulpit ;  but 
in  one  instance,  at  least,  we  should  unite  with  one  of  the  par- 
ties in  the  following  narrative,  in  thinking  it  desirable. 

A  Universalist  minister  was  travelling  to  the  West,  and  had 
sent  on  an  appointment  to  preach  in  a  certain  place.  On  his 
arrival,  he  found  a  congregation,  to  whom  he  proclaimed  the 
doctrine  of  unconditional  salvation.  After  the  sermon,  he  in- 
formed his  hearers  that  he  should  be  that  way  on  his  return, 
at  such  a  time ;  and  if  they  desired  it,  he  would  then  preach 
again.  No  one  replied  till  he  had  twice  repeated  his  statement. 
At  last  an  old  Friend,  in  the  back  part  of  the  congregation, 
rose,  and  said,  "  If  thee  hast  told  the  truth  this  time,  we  do 
not  need  thee  any  more ;  and  if  thee  hast  told  us  a  lie,  we  do 
not  want  thee  any  more." 


REV.  JOHN  ELIOT. 


This  eminent  man  was  very  justly  styled  The  Apostle  to 
the  Indians. 

On  the  28th  of  October,  1646,  he  set  out  from  his  home,  in 
rompany  with  three  friends,  to  the  nearest  Indian  settlement. 
Tie  had  previously  sent  to  give  this  tribe  notice  of  his  coming, 
and  a  very  large  number  was  collected  from  all  quarters.  If 
ihe  savages  expected  the  coming  of  their  guest,  of  whose  name 
they  had  often  heard,  to  be  like  that  of  a  warrior  or  sachem, 
they  were  greatly  deceived.  They  saw  Eliot  on  foot,  drawing 
near,  with  his  companions ;  his  translation  of  the  Scriptures, 
like  a  calumet  of  peace  and  love,  in  his  hand.     He  was  met 


REV.    JOHN    ELIOT.  179 

by  their  chief,  Waubon,  who  conducted  him  to  a  large  wig- 
warn.  After  a  short  rest,  Eliot  went  into  the  open  air,  and, 
standing  on  a  grassy  mound,  while  the  people  formed  around 
him  in  all  the  stillness  of  strong  surprise  and  curiosity,  he 
prayed  in  the  English  tongue,  as  if  he  could  not  address  Hea- 
ven in  a  language  both  strange  and  new.  And  then  he  preached 
for  an  hour  in  their  own  tongue,  and  gave  a  clear  and  simple 
account  of  the  religion  of  Christ,  of  his  character  and  life,  of 
the  blessed  state  of  those  who  believed  in  him.  Of  what  avail 
would  it  have  been  to  set  before  this  listening  people  the  terrors 
of  the  Almighty,  and  the  doom  of  the  guilty  ?  This  wise  man 
knew,  by  long  experience  as  a  minister,  that  the  heart  loves 
better  to  be  persuaded  than  terrified  —  to  be  melted  than 
alarmed.  The  whole  career  of  the  Indian's  life  tended  to 
freeze  up  the  finer  and  softer  feelings,  and  make  the  more  dark 
and  painful  passions  familiar  to  him.  He  resolved  to  strike  a 
new  chord ;  and  when  he  saw  the  tears  stream  down  their 
stern  faces,  and  the  haughty  head  sink  low  on  the  breast,  as 
he  painted  the  ineffable  love  of  Christ,  he  said  it  was  a  "glori- 
ous and  affecting  spectacle  to  see  a  company  of  perishing,  for- 
lorn outcasts,  so  drinking  in  the  word  of  salvation."  The 
impressions  this  discourse  produced,  were  of  a  very  favourable 
nature  :  as  far  as  the  chief,  Waubon,  was  concerned,  they  were 
never  effaced.  Afterwards,  the  guest  passed  several  hours 
conversing  with  the  Indians,  and  answering  their  questions. 
When  night  came,  he  returned  to  the  tent  with  the  chief,  and 
the  people  entered  their  wigwams,  or  lay  around,  and  slept  on 
the  grass.  What  were  Eliot's  feelings  on  this  night  ?  At  last, 
the  longing  of  years  was  accomplished ;  the  fruit  of  his  pray- 
ers was  given  him. 


Such  was  the  perseverance  of  this  holy  man  in  his  great 
work,  that  on  the  day  of  his  death  in  his  eightieth  year,  the 


ISO  THE    AMERICAN'    CiERGY. 

"Apostle  of  the  Indians"  was  found  teaching  the  alphabet  to  an 
Indian  child  at  his  bedside.  "  Why  not  rest  from  your  labours 
now?"  said  a  friend.  "Because,"  said  the  venerable  man,  "I 
have  prajed  to  God  to  render  me  useful  in  my  sphere;  and 
now  that  I  can  no  longer  preach,  he  leaves  me  strength  enough 
to  teach  this  poor  child  his  alphabet." 


REV.  JOHN  GANO. 


The  Rev.  Dr.  Cone,  pastor  of  the  first  Baptist  church  in 
New  York,  in  1845  preached  a  centennial  sermon,  in  which  he 
igave  a  sketch  of  his  predecessors  in  office.  In  speaking  of 
the  Rev.  John  Gano,  who  was  pastor  from  1760  to  1788,  he 
said  that  it  might  be  interesting  to  state  a  reminiscence  of  the 
revolutionary  war.  Mr.  Gano  was  a  chaplain  to  the  militia, 
and  fleeing  up  the  island  before  the  British,  the  regiment  to 
which  he  belonged  turned  to  resist  the  pursuers,  and  the  man- 
ODUvre  bringing  him  in  front  of  the  line,  he  fought  there  in  the 
place  of  the  lieutenant-colonel,  who  was  absent.  He  fought 
bravely,  which  gave  courage  to  the  men,  who  said,  "Surely 
God  is  on  our  side,  when  our  chaplain  is  our  leader."  At  the 
close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  the  city,  and  found  his  house 
destroyed,  and  his  place  of  worship  a  stable  of  British  cavalry. 
He  gathered  what  he  could  of  his  flock,  and  preached  to  them 
from  these  words  in  Haggai:  "Who  is  left  among  you  that  saw 
this  house  in  her  first  glory  ?  Is  it  not  now  in  comparison  of 
it  as  nothing  ?" 


A    PRACTICAL    PREACHER.  181 

A  clergyman,  some  time  since,  imparted  instruction  to  his 
congregation  by  relating  the  following  facts : 

Two  travellers  put  up  for  the  night  at  a  tavern.  Early  in 
the  morning  they  absconded  without  reckoning  with  their  host, 
also  stealing  from  him  a  bag  of  beans.  A  few  years  after  they 
passed  that  road  in  company  again  ;  and  again  they  asked  for 
lodging  at  the  same  inn.  The  identical  landlord  was  yet  at 
his  post ;  and  in  the  evening  was  overheard  by  them,  talking 
in  one  corner  of  the  bar-room,  in  a  suppressed  voice,  with  one 
of  his  neighbours,  about  a  swarm  of  bees.  One  of  his  disho- 
nest guests  said  to  the  other,  "  Did  not  he  say  beans  ?"  "  I 
think  he  did,"  was  the  reply,  and  quickly  they  were  missing. 

I  often  think,  added  the  clergyman,  about  the  beans.  When 
the  church  member  complains  that  the  minister  means  him, 
this  anecdote  about  the  beans  will  pop  into  my  mind.  On  a 
thousand  other  occasions,  I  notice  people  whose  consciences 
are  not  easy,  saying  to  each  other,  by  various  modes  of  com- 
munication, "Did  not  he  say  beans?"  though  perhaps  the 
preacher  was  no  nearer  the  subject  about  which  they  were  ex- 
cited than  the  bees  were  to  the  beans. 


A  PRACTICAL  PREACHER. 


A  New  England  clergyman  enforcing  on  his  congregation 
the  necessity  of  practical  godliness ;  and  contrasting  the  early 
Christians  with  those  of  the  present  generation,  very  properly 
remarked,  "  We  have  too  many  resolutions,  and  too  little 
action.  'The  Acts  of  the  Apostles,'  is  the  title  of  one  of  the 
books  of  the  New  Testament;  their  Resolutions  have  not 
reached  us." 


16 


182  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGV 


REV.  LUTHER  RICE. 


AVhen  Mr.  Rice  was  travelling  as  an  agent  in  the  cause  of 
foreign  missions,  he  was  once  in  attendance  at  a  public  meet- 
ing of  the  Shiloh  Association,  held  in  Culpepper  county, — that 
■part  of  it  now  forming  Rappahannock  county.  He  had  been 
urging  the  claims  of  the  heathen  on  the  sympathies  and  efforts 
of  Christians  with  his  accustomed  eloquence  and  effect ;  but 
among  his  hearers  was  a  brother  of  the  name  of  Jonathan 
Waters,  an  excellent  man,  but  somewhat  eccentric,  a  great 
stickler  for  sound  doctrine,  and  perhaps  not  altogether  uninfect- 
ed with  the  anti-ism  somewhat  rife  at  that  day  in  his  neigh- 
bourhood. When  asked  what  he  thought  of  the  cause,  he  re- 
plied he  could  tell  better  if  he  knew  what  sort  of  gospel  was 
to  be  sent  to  the  heathen.  Brother  Rice  had  not  preached  to 
them  ;  he  had  only  spoken  to  them  on  the  subject  of  missions. 
"  Well,"  said  Mr.  Rice,  "  suppose  I  preach  to-night."  Arrange- 
ments were  accordingly  made  for  holding  the  service  at  a  pri- 
vate house.  A  goodly  number  was  present,  and  among  them 
Brother  Waters,  seated  at  some  distance  from  the  speaker. 
The  text  was  announced, — John  x.  27,  28, — "  My  sheep  hear 
my  voice,  and  I  know  them,  and  they  follow  me :  and  I  give 
unto  them  eternal  life  ;  and  they  shall  never  perish,  neither 
shall  any  man  pluck  them  out  of  my  hand."  The  preacher 
had  proceeded  a  little  way,  when  Brother  W.  became  bent  in 
the  posture  of  deep  thought.  By  and  by,  he  raised  his  head, 
and  fixed  his  eyes  on  the  speaker  ;  soon  his  mouth  was  agape  ; 
a  little  after,  he  hitched  forward  his  chair,  and  gradually  ap- 
proached the  table,  until,  at  length,  he  was  under  the  very  lips 
of  the  charmer.  In  due  time— Luther  Rice  seldom  preached 
long  sermons — the  discourse  was  concluded ;  but  no  soonei 
was  the  "Amen"  out,  than  the  good  brother,  inflicting  a  "right 


REV.    LUTHER    RICE.  183 

smart"  slap  on  the  shoulders  of  Mr.  R.,  exclaimed,  "  Well, 
brother  Rice,  you  can  preach  !" 

Brother  Waters,  from  that  evening  to  the  day  of  his  death, 
was  known  as  one  of  the  warmest  friends  of  Christian  enter- 
prise in  all  his  region.  He  continued  as  firm  a  believer  as 
ever  in  the  Lord  doing  his  own  work ;  but  insisted  no  less 
strongly  that  it  was  the  part  of  a  true  friend  of  Christ  to  obey 
his  Master's  commands. 


Mr.  Rice  was  eminently  a  practical  man.  He  once  attended 
a  meeting  in  Virginia,  where  the  people  had  gathered  from 
afar,  and  a  large  number  of  ministers  were  present.  Sermons 
on  Election,  Perseverance  of  the  Saints,  Justifying  Faith,  and 
the  various  doctrines  of  grace,  had  been  preached.  One  of  the 
ministers  alluded  to  this  fact,  and  said  that  there  had  been 
much  strong  meat  given,  but  thought  it  necessary  in  order  that 
young  preachers  and  young  converts  should  be  established  in 
the  truth.  It  was  proper  to  go  over,  at  such  times,  the  round 
of  doctrines. 

Beside  him,  on  that  occasion,  sat  Luther  Rice.  He  at 
length  arose  to  speak.  He  remarked  that  he  could  not  agree 
with  all  that  his  predecessor  had  said.  "  Strong  meat !  Call 
the  doctrines  of  electing  love,  preserving  grace,  justifying  faith, 
strong  meat !  No,  no,  this  is  the  very  milk  of  the  word,  fit 
food  for  babes.  It  is  for  me  to  preach  the  strong  meat.  Give 
as  the  Lord  has  prospered  you.  There  is  strong  meat  for 
your  His  eye  flashed,  and  the  full  tone  of  his  voice,  as  he 
enunciated  this,  could  never  be  forgotten.  He  had  visited  Vir- 
ginia, to  arouse  to  the  work  of  missions.  His  labors  were  not 
in  vain. 


184 


THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


REV.  JOHN  SUMMERFIELD. 


Seldom,  if  ever,  has  this  or  any  other  country  produced  a 
more  zealous  or  eloquent  preacher  than  this  truly  remarkable 
young  man.  Among  many  other  illustrations  of  his  power  in 
the  pulpit,  we  learn  that  in  1822,  he  preached  in  New  York, 
in  behalf  of  the  institution  for  the  instruction  of  the  Deaf  and 
Dumb,  and  the  following  were  his  concluding  sentences  ;  but 
although  they  are  the  very  words  of  the  preacher,  those  only 
who  heard  them  in  that  great  congregation,  can  conceive  of 
the  fervour  with  which  they  were  uttered : — 

"  But  I  transfer  these  children  now  to  you.  Behold  them.'' 
Here  dropping  his  handkerchief  on  the  platform,  the  objects 
of  the  charity  stood  up  in  the  presence  of  the  congregation, 
while  he  proceeded, — "  They  now  stand  before  you,  as  you  must 
stand  before  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ.  Turn  away  from 
these  children  of  affliction,  and  when  the  Lord  says,  '  Inas- 
much as  ye  did  it  not  to  the  least  of  these,  ye  did  it  not  unto 
me,'  you  too  may  be  dumb,  speechless  in  shame.  Dare  you 
on  this  occasion  say  : — 

The  mercy  I  to  others  show, 
That  mercy  show  to  me  1 

Do  you  realize  that  day  ?  You  must  stand  stripped  of  every 
earthly  treasure — naked  before  God  !  While  you  plead  for  mer- 
cy,— cast  all  earthly  treasure  from  you  now, — these  now  plead 
with  you,  as  you  will  plead  with  God : — hear  them  !  I  do  not 
mock  you  ! — Silence  like  theirs  is  eloquence.  The  hand  of  God 
has  smitten  them,  but  the  stroke  which  blasted,  consecrated 
them  !  Heaven  has  cast  them  on  you  : — if  you  withhold,  'tis 
sacrilege!  Will  a  man  rob  God ?  Are  you  still  passing  by 
on  the  other  side  ?  Still  griping,  with  a  miser's  fist,  the  pelf 
of  earth  ? — Father  of  Mercies  !  palsy  not   that  hand  !  wither 


A    YOUNG    CLERGYMAN.  185 

not  that  eye  which  can  gaze  on  these  objects,  and  not  feel 
affected  !  On  me  be  the  wrong  !  I  have  failed  to  affect  them 
— these  children  have  failed.  Thou  canst  move  them  ; — Oh, 
descend  as  with  cloven  tongues  of  fire  1  and  find  thou  an  en- 
trance into  every  heart. — But — I  can  no  more !" 

The  sermon  being  concluded,  the  collection  was  taken  up, 
which  amounted  to  more  than  one  thousand  dollars,  a  gold 
necklace,  and  several  rings. 


Preaching  once  in  Allen  Street  Church,  New  York,  this 
eloquent  young  clergyman  wished  to  define  and  illustrate 
Christian  confidence ;  and  he  did  it  in  this  way  : — "You  remem- 
ber Peter,  when  he  was  imprisoned,  chained  between  two  sol- 
diers. The  church  was  praying  in  tears,  wondering  what 
would  become  of  them  if  their  strong  champion  was  taken 
from  them.  The  enemies  of  God  on  earth,  and  the  devils  in 
hell,  were  rejoicing  that  they  had  Peter  in  their  power.  The 
angels  in  heaven,  ever  intent  on  the  mysteries  of  Providence 
in  redemption,  were  sending  down  to  see  what  the  Lord  would 
do  with  Peter.  When  heaven,  and  earth,  and  hell,  were  think- 
ing of  Peter,  what  were  Peter's  thoughts  ?  What  was  Peter 
doing  1     Peter  was  asleep.'*'' 


A  YOUNG  CLERGYMAN. 


The  following  lines,  descriptive  of  a  beautiful  incident,  are 
from  the  pen  of  Mrs.  A.  L.  Angier,  and  are  said  to  describe 
an  actual  occurrence. 

The  rosy  light  of  Sabbath  eve 

On  hill  and  valley  lay  ; 
And  lingered  long,  as  if  to  leave 

A  blessing  on  the  day. 
16* 


t86  THlfi    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

The  village  bell  had  sweetly  tolled 

Its  chime  upon  the  air, 
To  summon  to  tlieir  hallowed  fold 

The  worshippers  for  prayer. 
The  organ's  deep  and  solemn  peals 

Fell  on  the  listening  ear, 
As  o'er  the  senses  gently  stole 

The  feeling — God  is  near ! 
The  youthful  preacher  rose,  and  took 

His  theme — 'twas  Jesus'  love  ! 
When  lo  !  beside  the  sacred  book 

There  stood  a  snow-white  dove ! 

With  timid  gaze  and  folded  wing, 
It  paused — then  soared  away ; 

In  vain  we  sought  to  track  its  course, 
In  vain  we  bade  it  stay. 

Onward  and  upward  still  it  flew, 
Till  not  a  speck  was  seen, 

To  tell  that  in  the  vaults  of  blue 
Its  graceful  form  had  been. 

I  know  not  if  the  thought  be  wrong, 

But  it  hath  seemed  to  me, 
That  some  mute  herald  from  the  skies 

That  gentle  bird  might  be. 
To  teach  us,  if  to  innocence 

Our  days  on  earth  are  given. 
We  too  may  plume  our  spirits'  wings, 

And  take  our  flight  for  heaven. 

The  memory  of  that  Sabbath  eve. 

That  quiet  sunset  scene. 
Did  on  my  heart  an  impress  leave, 

From  which  tliis  truth  I  glean : 

That  nature's  simplest  lessons  tend 
To  show  some  moral  plain ; 

For,  on  the  page  that  God  hath  penned, 
No  line  is  writ  in  vain. 


DEVOTEDNESS  OF  CLERGYMEN  TO  THEIR 
LABOURS. 


a87> 


REV.  JOHN  BROCK. 

This  eminent  minister,  who  died  at  Reading,  Mass.,  in  1668, 
was  truly  remarkable  for  devotedness  to  his  work,  and  for  a 
spirit  of  fervent  prayer,  of  which  several  remarkable  facts  are 
related.  When  he  lived  at  the  Isle  of  Shoals,  he  persuaded 
the  people  to  enter  into  an  agreement  to  spend  one  day  in 
every  month,  besides  the  Sabbaths,  in  religious  worship.  On 
one  of  these  days,  the  fishermen,  who  composed  his  society, 
desired  him  to  put  off  the  meeting,  as  the  roughness  of  the 
weather  had  for  a  number  of  days  prevented  them  from  attend- 
ing to  their  usual  employment.  He  endeavoured  in  vain  to 
convmce  them  of  the  impropriety  of  their  request.  As  most 
of  them  were  determined  on  seizing  the  opportunity  for  mak- 
ing up  their  lost  time,  and  were  more  intent  on  their  worldly 
than  on  their  spiritual  concerns,  he  addressed  them  thus :  "  If 
you  are  resolved  to  neglect  your  duty  to  God,  and  will  go 
away,  I  say  to  you,  catch  fish  if  you  can ;  but  as  for  you, 
who  will  tarry  and  worship  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  I  will  pray 
unto  him  for  you,  that  you  may  catch  fish  until  you  are 
weary."  Of  thirty-five  men,  only  five  remained  with  the  mi- 
nister. The  thirty  who  went  from  the  meeting,  with  all  their 
skill,  caught  through  the  whole  day  but  four  fishes ;  while  the 
five  who  attended  diyine  service,  afterwards  went  out  and 
caught  five  hundred.  From  this  time  the  fishermen  readily 
attended  all  the  meetings  he  appointed.  A  poor  man,  who  had 
been  very  useful  with  his  boat,  in  carrying  persons  who  at- 
tended public  worship  over  a  river,  lost  his  boat  in  a  storm, 
and  lamented  his  loss  to  his  minister.  Mr.  Brock  said  to  him, 
"  Go  home,  honest  man ;  I  will  mention  the  matter  to  the 
Lord ;  you  will  have  your  boat  again  to-morrow."  The  next 
day,  in  earnest  prayer,  the  poor  man  recovered  his  boat,  which 

(189) 


190  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

was  brought  up  from  the  bottom,  by  the  anchor  of  a  vessel, 
cast  upon  it  without  design.  A  number  of  such  remarkable 
correspondences  between  the  events  of  providence  and  the 
prayers  of  this  holy  man,  caused  Mr.  John  Allen,  of  Dedham, 
to  say  of  him,  "  I  scarce  ever  knew  any  man  so  familiar  with 
the  great  God,  as  his  dear  servant  Brock." 


REV.  PRESIDENT  DAVIES. 


Such  was  the  devoted ness  of  this  excellent  minister,  that 
even  in  very  early  life,  when  only  entering  on  his  labours,  and 
when  he  was  judged  to  be  in  an  irrecoverable  consumption, 
entertaining  no  hope  of  restored  health,  he  determined  to  spend 
the  remains  of  an  exhausted  life,  as  he  apprehended,  in  endea- 
vouring to  advance  his  Master's  glory  in  the  good  of  souls. 
Accordingly  he  removed  from  the  place  where  he  was,  to  an- 
other, about  a  hundred  miles  distant,  then  in  want  of  a  minis- 
ter. Here  he  laboured  in  season  and  out  of  season ;  and 
preached  in  the  day,  and  had  his  hectic  fever  by  night,  and 
sometimes  to  such  a  degree  as  to  be  delirious,  and  to  be  in  need 
of  persons  to  sit  up  with  him. 


It  is  said  of  this  extraordinary  man,  that  he  never  preached 
a  sermon  which  was  not  instrumental  in  at  least  one  con- 
version. Some  of  his  sermons  brought  many  to  the  foot  of 
the  cross.  For  the  explanation  of  this,  it  need  only  be  said 
that  his  soul  was  made  of  heavenly  fires.  He  delighted  to  be 
in  his  closet. 


BISHOP    6RISW0LD.  19i 


BISHOP  GRISWOLD. 


Db.  Stone  relates  that  this  eminent  Christian  minister  hav- 
ing once  reached  Newport,  it  became  necessary  to  cross  Nar- 
ragansett  Bay,  in  order  to  keep  an  appointment  which  he  had 
made  at  Wick  ford,   in    the   old    St.  Paul's  or   Narragansett 
Church.     But  a  violent  gale,  which  had  prevented  an  outward- 
bound  vessel  from  sailing  for  Cuba,  was  still  raging,  and  had 
kept  the  regular  ferry-packet  from  coming  over,  on  that  day, 
from  Wickford  to  Newport.      Here,  indeed,  was  a  difficulty, 
which  would  have  kept  most  men  housed.     The  swelling  Nar- 
ragansett, bowing  its  thousand  waves  before  the  strong  blast 
of  a  still  powerful  wind  and  tempest,  lay,  eight  miles  broad, 
between  him  and  his  place  of  destination.     Yet  he  could  not 
give  up,  without  an  effort,  his  purpose  of  being  punctual  to  his 
engagement.     By  the  offer  of  an  extra  reward,  he  induced  a 
strong  boatman,  in  an  open  sea-craft,  to  attempt  the  passage. 
They  set  forth  together  on  the  dangerous  essay.     But  by  the 
time  they  were  midway  on  the  water,  the  boatman  felt  the 
peril  to  be  too  great  for  farther  progress.     Addressing  his  pas- 
senger,  therefore,   he  said :  "  Bishop,   I   dare  go  no  further 
against  such  a  wind  as  this  !"     The  announcement  was  full  of 
import.     Still,  the  bishop  was  undismayed.     He  did  not,  in- 
deed, emulate  the  moral  sublime  of  the  ancient  conqueror,  in 
the  inquiry,  "  Quid  times  ?     Caesarem  vehis  ?"     "  Why  fearest 
thou  ?     Thou  carriest  CsBsar."     But,   rising  above,   into  the 
higher  sublime  of  a  calm  trust  in  him  who  holdeth  the  waters 
in  the  hollow  of  his  hand,  he  simply  asked,  "  Why,  what  is 
the  matter?"     "The  craft  has  not  ballast  enough,"  was  the 
quick  reply ;  if  she  carried  more  of  that,  she  might  perhaps 
live  through  the  bay."    "  Would  it  help  her,"  asked  the  bishop, 
*'  if  I  were  to  lie  down  in  the  boat  ?"     "  No  better  ballast  than 
that  could  she  have  "  said  the  boatman.     The  suggestion  was 


192  THE    AMERICAN   CLERGY. 

no  sooner  made  than  adopted.  Casting  himself  at  full  length 
upon  his  face,  into  the  bottom  of  the  boat,  with  the  weight  of  a 
strong  fram?,  much  heavier  than  that  of  common  men,  the 
little  vessel  braced  herself  more  strongly  to  the  blast ;  and 
though  in  peril  of  going  down,  yet,  after  long  toiling,  she 
reached  Wickford  harbour,  and  the  bishop  stepped  thankfully 
upon  the  firm  land.  Yet,  so  wet  and  encrusted  had  his  hat 
and  garments  become,  under  the  gray  brine  which  had  been 
splashed  over  him,  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  village  were 
scarcely  able  to  recognise  in  him  their  old  and  well-known 
visitor. 

But,  upon  reaching  the  house  of  the  rector  of  the  parish,  in 
season  for  the  service  which  he  had  appointed,  he  found  that 
he  had  not  been  expected,  and  that  therefore  the  church  had 
not  been  opened.  The  violence  of  the  storm  kept  every  one 
at  home.  The  rector  himself  was  in  utter  amazement  at  his 
arrival,  and  exclaimed,  "  Why,  bishop,  I  would  not  have 
crossed  the  Narragansett,  such  a  day  as  this,  for  a  warranty 
deed  of  the  whole  Narragansett  country !"  Nor  would  the 
bishop,  for  such  an  inducement  as  that.  But,  under  a  sense 
of  duty,  he  was  ready  to  dare  what  no  pecuniary  considera- 
tion could  have  bribed  him  to  attempt.  "  I  had  made  my 
appointments,"  said  he,  calmly,  "  and  was  not  willing  that  the 
people  should  be  disappointed  through  my  fault." 


A  MISSIONARY  IN  NEW  YORK. 

Some  time  m  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century,  a  missionary 
from  one  of  the  New  England  societies  was  labouring  in  the 
nterior  of  the  state  of  New  York,  where  the  settlements  were 
very  few  and  far  between.  This  missionary  was  much  devoted 
to  his  worV,  moek  and  affable,  and  possessed  a  remarkabl« 


A    MISSIONARY    IN    NEW    YORK.  198 

talent  for  introducing  the  subject  of  religion  to  every  indivi- 
dual  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  On  a  hot  summer's  day, 
v»'hile  his  horse  was  drinking  from  a  small  brook  throut^h 
which  he  rode,  there  came  along  a  poorly  dressed,  bare-headed, 
bare-footed  boy,  about  seven  years  old,  and  stood  looking  at 
the  missionary  from  the  bridge  just  above  him. 

"  My  son,"  said  the  missionary,  "  have  you  any  parents  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir ;  they  live  in  that  house,"  pointing  to  a  cabin 
near  by. 

"  Do  your  parents  pray  V* 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Why  do  they  not  pray  V' 

*'  I  do  not  know,  sir." 

"  Do  you  pray  ?" 

"  No,  sir." 

"Why  do  you  not  pray  ?" 

"  I  do  not  know  how  to  pray." 

"  Can  you  read  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir ;  my  mother  has  taught  me  to  read  the  New  Tes- 
tament." 

"  If  I  give  you  this  sixpence,  will  you  go  home  and  read 
the  third  chapter  of  John,  and  read  the  third  verse  over  three 
times  ?"  The  little  boy  said  he  would ;  and  the  missionary 
gave  him  the  sixpence,  and  rode  on. 

Some  twenty  years  had  elapsed  ;  and  the  same  missionary, 
advanced  in  years,  was  labouring  in  a  sparsely-peopled  region, 
in  another  part  of  the  same  state.  While  on  his  way  to  a 
little  village,  one  day,  late  in  the  afternoon,  he  called  at  a 
small  house,  and  inquired  the  distance.  "  Six  miles,"  was  the 
reply.  He  then  stated  that  himself  and  horse  were  very 
weary,  and  inquired  if  he  could  not  stay  all  night.  The 
woman  of  the  house  objected,  on  account  of  their  poverty:  but 
the  husband  said,  "  Sir  you  shall  be  welcome  to  such  as  we 
have." 

17 


194  THE    AMERICAN    CLEKGY. 

The  missionary  dismounted  and  went  in.  The  wife  began 
to  prepare  his  supper,  while  her  husband  proceeded  to  take 
care  of  the  horse.  As  he  came  in,  the  missionary  addressed 
him :  "  Do  you  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  ?" 

"  That,"  said  the  man,  "  is  a  great  question." 

"  True,"  said  the  missionary ;  "  but  I  cannot  eat  till  you 
tell  me." 

"Sir,"  said  the  man, "  about  twenty  years  ago,  I  lived  in  the 
interior  of  this  state,  and  was  then  about  seven  years  old.  While 
playing  in  the  road,  one  day,  a  gentleman  in  black  rode  into  the 
brook,  near  by  me,  to  water  his  horse.  As  I  stood  on  the  bridge 
above,  looking  at  him,  he  began  to  converse  with  me  about  pray- 
ing, and  reading  the  Bible;  and  told  me  he  would  give  me  a  six- 
pence if  I  would  read  the  third  chapter  of  John,  and  the  third 
verse  three  times :  '  And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him. 
Verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  except  a  man  be  born  again,  he  can- 
not see  the  kingdom  of  God.'  I  gave  him  my  promise,  took 
the  money,  and  felt  wealthy  indeed.  I  went  home,  and  read 
as  I  had  promised.  That  verse  produced  an  uneasiness  in  my 
mind,  which  followed  me  for  days  and  years ;  and  finally  I 
was  led  by  its  influence,  as  I  trust,  to  love  Jesus  as  my 
Saviour !" 

*'  Glory  to  God  !"  said  the  missionary,  rising  from  his  seat ; 
"  here  is  one  of  my  spiritual  children ;  the  bread  cast  on  the 
waters  is  found  after  many  days  I" 

They  took  their  supper,  and  talked  and  sang,  and  prayed 
and  rejoiced  together  all  night  long,  neither  of  them  having 
any  disposition  to  sleep.  The  missionary  found  him  to  be  poor 
in  this  world's  goods,  but  rich  in  faith,  and  an  heir  of  the 
kingdom.  Early  in  the  morning  they  parted,  and  the  mission 
ary  went  his  way,  inspired  with  fresh  zeal  for  the  prosecution 
of  his  holv  labours. 


KEV.    SAMUEL    H.    STEARNS.  1U5 


REV.  S.  STODDARD. 


This  eminent  preacher  and  writer  was  the  predecessor,  at 
Northampton,  of  President  Edwards.  He  probably  possessed 
more  influence  than  any  other  clergyman  in  the  province,  dur- 
ing a  period  of  thirty  years.  The  very  savages  are  said  to 
have  felt  towards  him  a  peculiar  awe.  Once,  when  he  was 
liding  from  Northampton  to  Hatfield,  and  passing  a  place 
called  Dewey's  Hole,  an  ambush  of  savages  lined  the  road.  It 
is  said  that  a  Frenchman,  directing  his  gun  towards  him,  was 
warned  by  one  of  the  Indians,  who  some  time  before  had  been 
among  the  English,  not  to  fire,  "  because  that  man  was  the 
Englishman's  God."  A  similar  adventure  was  reported  to 
have  befallen  him,  while  meditating,  in  an  orchard  immediately 
behind  the  church  in  Deerfield,  a  sermon  which  he  was  about 
to  preach. 


REV.  SAMUEL  H.  STEARNS. 


This  young  minister,  who  was  cut  off"  in  the  commence- 
ment of  a  highly  promising  course  of  usefulness,  while  yet  a 
student  at  Andover,  formed  high  and  correct  views  of  the  min- 
istry, and  prepared  and  adopted  the  following  resolutions,  which 
cannot  be  too  strongly  commended  as  a  model  for  others  : — 

I  wholly  renounce  ambition,  and  self-indulgence,  as  motives 
of  action. 

I  must  be  absolutely  and  entirely  devoted  to  God,  in  heart 
and  life  ;  and  live  not  unto  myself,  but  unto  him  who  loved  me 
and  died  for  me. 

I  must  glorify  God,  in  the  improvement  of  my  own  charac- 
ter, and  in  doing  good  to  mankind. 

I  will  follow  my  own  taste  and  genius,  so  far  as  circumstances 
allow ;  and  trust  in  God  that  his  providence  will  guide  me. 


19 


TU£    AMEKICAN    CLERGY. 


I  will  never  intrude  myself  on  the  public,  or  take  a  conspi- 
cuous part,  witliout  good  and  important  reasons  ;  nor  will  I 
.shrink  from  the  exposure  when  duty  calls,  but  generously  go 
forward,  and  endeavour  to  acquit  myself  with  Christian  pro- 
priety. 

My  intercourse  with  the  world,  so  far  as  it  extends,  shall  be 
perfectly  honourable,  christian,  frank,  kind,  and  magnani- 
mous ; — any  good  attained  or  done  at  the  expense  of  this,  costs 
too  much. 

It  shall  be  my  pleasure  to  exert  a  happy  influence  on  all 
within  the  little  circle  in  which  I  move. 

I  will  never  be  disturbed  or  diverted  from  my  purpose,  by  the 
remarks,  conduct  and  opinions  of  those  who  do  not  know  my 
character  or  understand  my  motives  ;  but  will  ever  maintain 
that  self-possession,  freedom,  independence,  and  liberality  of 
feeling  which  constitute  true  dignity. 

M'"hy  should  we  be  for  ever  undoing  the  work  of  life?  Why 
shbuld  we  wish  to  be  just  like  everybody  else  ?  I  will  be  my- 
self, and  make  the  best  of  it.  God  grant  that  I  may  grow 
better ! 


REV.  G.  WHITEFIELD. 


Every  thing  about  Whitefield  commanded  attention.  His 
voice,  accompanied  by  his  look  from  crossed  eyes,  and  pro- 
ceeding from  a  man  of  his  robust  frame,  must  have  produced 
wonderful  effects.  It  is  said  that  when  once  preaching  in  a 
grave-yard,  two  young  men  conducted  themselves  improperly, 
when  he  fixed  his  eyes  upon  them,  and  with  a  voice  resembling 
thunder  said,  "Come  down,  you  rebels!"  They  fell,  neither 
of  thorn  being  inclined  to  come  into  contact  with  such  a  look,* 
or  to  hear  such  a  voice  again. 


A    CITY    MINISTER.  197 


A  CITY  MINISTER, 

A  minister  of  the  Gospel,  in  one  of  our  Northern  cities, 
some  years  ago,  became  deeply  impressed  with  a  desire  for  in- 
creased usefulness.  He  thought  much  upon  the  most  probable 
means  for  the  accomplishment  of  this  object.  The  ordinary 
opportunities  of  access  to  his  people,  by  pulpit  ministration  and 
customary  pastoral  visitings,  did  not  satisfy  his  soul.  He 
longed  to  lead  his  flock  directly  to  Christ — to  witness  a  greater 
degree  of  spirituality  among  them.  At  length,  he  resolved  to 
visit  every  family,  and,  as  far  as  practicable,  to  ascertain  the 
spiritual  condition  of  each  of  its  members,  by  personal  con- 
versation upon  religious  experience.  At  an  appointed  time,  he 
entered  upon  his  labours  of  love.  He  called  on  one  and  an- 
other of  the  families  of  his  people — had  every  household  ga- 
thered— and  with  much  affectionate  concern,  spoke  to  them  of 
the  necessity  of  living  each  day  for  God  and  for  eternity.  His 
own  soul  was  comforted,  and  he  felt  that  his  labours  were  not 
in  vain  in  the  Lord. 

A  day  or  two  after  he  had  commenced  this  heavenly  em- 
ployment, he  called  at  the  house  of  one  of  his  most  pious  and 
influential  members — a  man  of  wealth.  The  father  was  absent 
at  his  place  of  business ;  but  the  mother,  an  amiable  and 
pious  woman,  was  at  home.  On  making  known  to  the  latter 
his  desire  that  she  should  summon  her  family  to  the  parlour, 
and  acquainting  her  with  his  design  to  speak  personally  to 
them — to  exhort,  admonish,  or  encourage,  as  they  might  need 
— ^fhe  mother  thanked  him  with  tears  of  gratitude  ;  but  said  : — 

"  I  have  one  request  to  make  of  you,  sir." 
What  is  that  ?"  said  the  minister. 

"It  is,  that  you  will  say  nothing  to  my  eldest  daughter, 
Mary,  on  the  subject  of  religion.  I  have  prayed  for  that  child 
for  years.     I  have  talked  to  her  again  and  again  ;  but  her 

17* 


198  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

heart  is  set  upon  vanity.  Fashion  and  the  world  are  predomi- 
nant in  her  affections.  She  has  become,  of  late,  exceedingly- 
sensitive  to  reproof  or  admonition.  Respectful  in  every  other 
relation,  she  will  not  permit  me  to  speak  to  her  on  religious 
subjects,  without  returning  a  violence  of  language  entirely 
unbecoming  a  daughter.  I  have  determined,  therefore,  to  re- 
frain from  any  direct  appeal  to  her,  until  she  shall  give  evi- 
dence of  greater  docility.  You  will  please,  therefore,  say 
nothing  to  Mary,  whatever  you  may  say  to  the  others.  I 
should  be  very  sorry  to  have  your  feelings  injured,  as  well  as 
my  own,  by  the  manner  in  which  I  am  but  too  confident  she 
would  respond.     May  God  bless  your  admonition  to  the  rest." 

In  a  few  moments,  the  family  were  gathered  in  the  presence 
of  the  minister.  Mary  sat  among  them.  She  had  entered 
with  a  respectful  courtesy,  and  taken  her  position  at  a  window 
upon  the  street,  apparently  more  interested  in  what  was  going 
on  without,  than  attentive  to  the  conversation  within.  The 
minister  spoke  first  to  the  mother,  of  her  responsibilities  and 
duties  ;  then  to  a  son,  a  youth  of  intellect  and  promise ;  then 
to  a  younger  daughter,  and  so  on,  until  he  had  administered 
his  kind  and  fatherly  instruction  to  all — I  mean  all  except 
Mary.  To  her  he  said  nothing ;  he  seemed  to  be  unconscious 
of  her  presence. 

As  the  tears  of  tenderness  flowed  freely  from  all  who  parti- 
cipated in  the  delightful  interview,  Mary  sat  at  the  window, 
playing  idly  with  the  tasseling  of  the  silk  curtains ;  her  proud 
spirit  refusing  the  first  intimations  of  sympathetic  feeling.  The 
brightness  of  her  eye  was  undimmed  by  any  gathering  tear ; 
the  loftiness  of  her  carriage  was  not  for  a  moment  relaxed  by 
the  affecting  scene  before  her;  and  when  the  minister  said, 
''  Let  us  pray  !"  she  arose  not  from  her  seat  to  bow  with  the 
rest,  but  remained  still  in  her  position  of  scornful  unconcern ; 
her  delicate  fingers  toying  with  the  silken  fringes  of  the  drapery 
before   her.     The  minister  poured  out   his  soul  in  a  fervent 


A    CITY    MINISTER.   '  199 

prayer  to  the  throne  of  grace.  Oh  !  how  earnestly  committed 
he  that  family  to  the  guardianship  of  Heaven ;  referring  to 
them  in  his  supplications  individually,  and  appropriately  pre- 
senting them  to  the  mercy  of  the  Father  through  the  merit  of 
the  Son.  But  he  offered  no  prayer  for  Mary.  Unconcernedly 
and  proudly,  she  still  played  with  the  silken  toys.  The  prayer 
ceased — the  good  man  arose.  Taking  each  by  the  hand,  he 
affectionately  gave  a  parting  admonition  and  invocation ;  and 
bowing  coldly  to  Mary,  who  as  coldly  returned  his  civility,  he 
left  the  room,  and  made  his  way  to  the  entrance  of  the 
building. 

He  had  scarcely  passed  the  threshold,  when  the  words  of 
the  Redeemer,  "  I  am  not  come  to  call  the  righteous,  but  sin- 
ners, to  repentance,'"  flashed  upon  his  mind.  Suddenly  paus- 
ing, he  said  to  himself,  "  Shall  I  refuse  exertion  for  any  soul, 
to  save  which  my  Master  came  down  from  Heaven  ?  Nay ; 
God  being  my  helper,  I  will  return !" 

Again  he  stood  in  the  parlour.  The  family  sat  just  as  he 
had  left  them,  musing  upon  the  things  he  had  spoken.  Mary 
was,  to  all  appearance,  still  cold  and  unmoved. 

With  a  courage  imparted  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  walked  up 
to  where  she  sat,  and  taking  her  hand  in  his,  said,  "  It  is  a 
faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that  Jesus 
Christ  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners.  Shall  he  save 
you  ?" 

The  rock  was  smitten  !  The  waters  gushed  forth  freely  and 
fully !  Mary,  proud  and  scornful  as  she  seemed  to  be,  needed 
only  the  word  of  invitation  to  bow  and  weep  and  pray.  Then 
was  heard  the  bitter  cry  of  "  God,  be  merciful  to  me,  a  sinner !" 
Angels  hovered  over  that  little  assembly,  and  ere  the  descend- 
ing sun  gave  place  to  the  gathering  twilight,  the  shout  of  con- 
version ascended  to  the  throne,  and  there  was  joy  in  heaven 
over  the  sinner  that  had  repented. 


200  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

The  moral  of  this  narrative  is  twofold,  and  is  borne  upon  its 
very  face.     Mothers  may  learn  from  it  never  to  despair,  and 
I   ministers  never  to  falter  ! 


REV.  SOLOMON  ALLEN. 


This  excellent  minister,  who  laboured  in  the  beginning  of 
this  century,  first  in  Hampshire  county,  and  then  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  state  of  New  York,  did  not  commence  his 
ministry  till  he  was  fifty  years  of  age.  His  zeal  was  irre- 
pressible, and  his  disinterestedness  exceedingly  striking.  He 
endured  great  hardships,  making  every  possible  sacrifice  in 
the  pursuit  of  his  great  object.  And  such  was  the  happy 
effect,  that  many  felt  as  did  one  avowed  enemy  of  the  gospel : 
"  This  is  a  thing  I  cannot  get  along  with  ;  this  old  gentleman, 
who  can  be  as  rich  as  he  pleases,  comes  here  and  does  all 
these  things  for  nothing ;  there  must  be  something  in  his  reli- 
gion." 


REV.  DR.  J.  M.  MASON. 


Being  asked  by  a  physician  why  he  did  not  give  to  the 
world  the  result  of  his  observations  in  his  frequent  travels  in 
different  parts  of  the  world.  Dr.  M.  replied,  "  Alas !  what  sort 
of  travels  can  I  write  ?  I  neither  understand  the  nature  of  the 
air  I  breathe,  nor  the  water  I  drink,  nor  the  earth  I  tread 
upon ;  my  life  has  been  appropriated  to  Divinity.''''  The 
frankness  of  this  answer  was  characteristic  of  this  great  and 
honest  man,  who  long  bore  the  name  of  the  American  Paul 


REV.    PRESIDEAT    EDWARDS.  iJOl 

and  may  be  considered  as  a  rebuke  of  a  class  of  the  clergy 
not  small,  who  know  every  thing  but  the  one  to  which  they 
have  professedly  devoted  their  lives. 


REV.  PRESIDENT  EDWARDS. 


The  most  eminently  useful  men  have  been  those  of  the 
deepest  piety.  President  Edwards's  success  may  be  attributed, 
in  a  very  eminent  degree,  to  this  fact.  He  writes :  "  Once,  as 
1  rode  out  into  the  woods,  having  alighted  from  my  horse,  in  a 
retired  place,  for  divine  contemplation  and  prayer,  I  had  a 
view,  that  for  me  was  extraordinary,  of  the  glory  of  the  Son 
of  God,  as  Mediator  between  God  and  man.  The  person  of 
the  Son  of  God  appeared  ineffably  excellent,  with  an  excel- 
lency great  enough  to  swallow  up  all  thought  and  conception. 
This  view  continued,  as  near  as  I  can  judge,  about  an  hour, 
and  kept  me  the  greater  part  of  the  time  in  a  flood  of  tears, 
and  weeping  aloud.  I  felt  an  ardency  of  soul  to  be,  what  I 
know  not  otherwise  how  to  express,  emptied  of  self,  to  lie  in 
the  dust,  and  to  be  full  of  Christ  alone;  to  love  him  with  a 
holy  and  pure  love ;  to  trust  in  him ;  to  live  upon  him ;  to 
serve  and  follow  him ;  and  to  be  perfectly  sanctified  and  made 
pure,  with  a  divine  and  heavenly  purity."  Such  passages  as 
these  constantly  occur  in  his  moral  history. 

Who  can  wonder  that  such  a  man  was  eminently  useful  as 
a  preacher  ?  When  he  preached,  it  was  with  a  heavenly  unc- 
tion and  power  that  subdued  a  whole  assembly.  Many  aim  to 
be  very  intellectual,  and  avoid  the  manifestation  of  deep  emo- 
tion, as  if  it  were  allied  to  weakness ;  than  which  nothing  can 
be  more  untrue.  There  is  in  their  discourses  an  affectation  of 
argumentative  power.  Every  thing  is  viewed  by  them  in  the 
mere  light  of  reason,  rather  than  in  the  soft  and  mellow  light 


-02  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

of  fervid  and  holy  feeling.  We  care  not  how  rigid  the  preach- 
er's logic ;  but  it  must  be  a  logic  warmed  and  vivified  by  a 
spirit  of  deep  and  earnest  piety.  The  preacher  must  not  be 
professionally  pious.  He  must  study  the  Bible  with  a  constant 
reference  to  his  own  personal  wants,  and  to  the  sanctification 
of  his  own  heart. 


REV.  JOHN  ELIOT. 


Some  of  the  Indian  chiefs  having  become  the  open  enemies 
of  the  gospel,  Mr.  Eliot,  sometimes  called  the  "  Apostle  of  the 
American  Indians,"  when  in  the  wilderness,  without  the  com- 
pany of  any  other  Englishman,  was,  at  various  times,  treated 
in  a  threatening  and  barbarous  manner  by  some  of  those  men; 
yet  his  Almighty  Protector  inspired  him  with  such  resolution, 
that  he  said,  "  I  am  about  the  work  of  the  Great  God,  and 
my  God  is  with  me ;  so  that  I  fear  neither  you,  nor  all  the 
sachems  (or  chiefs)  in  the  country.  I  will  go  on,  and  do  you 
touch  me  if  you  dare."     They  heard  him,  and  shrunk  away. 


REV.  DR.  RODGERS. 


The  wisdom  of  Dr.  John  Rodgers,  of  New  York,  was  in 
nothing  more  evident  than  in  his  way  of  opposing  error,  and 
in  his  dislike  of  persecution.  When  he  was  once  strongly 
urged  by  some  of  the  officers  of  his  church  to  preach  against 
ihe  errors  of  a  particular  sect,  and  to  warn  his  people  against 
them  by  name,  he  firmly  refused ;  saying,  "  Brethren,  you 
must  excuse  me  ;  I  cannot  reconcile  it  with  my  sense  either  of 
policy  or  duty  to  oppose  these  people  from  the  pulpit,  other 


REV.    DR.    MANNING.  ^3 

vise  than  by  preaching  the  truth  plainly  and  faithfully.  I 
believe  them  to  be  in  error ;  but  let  us  out-preach  them,  out- 
pray  them,  and  out-live  them,  and  we  need  not  fear." 


REV.  DR.  MANNING. 


In  the  Rev.  W.  Hague's  excellent  "  Historical  Discourse," 
we  meet  with  the  following  anecdote  of  Dr.  Manning : — 

It  was  the  delight  of  Dr.  Manning  to  aid  the  needy,  and  to 
throw  the  sunshine  of  Christian  sympathy  around  the  path  of 
the  afflicted.  His  knowledge  of  the  world,  his  courtly  man- 
ners, his  christian  meekness,  combined  with  great  energy  of 
character,  enabled  him  to  move  at  ease  with  every  class  of 
society,  and  to  promote  the  good  of  all.  In  a  recent  memoir 
which  forms  an  elegant  tribute  to  his  memory,  it  is  stated,  that 
he  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the  general  commanding  in  his 
department,  and  in  one  instance  in  particular,  had  all  the  be- 
nevolent feelings  of  his  heart  gratified,  even  at  the  last  mo- 
ment, after  earnest  entreaty,  by  obtaining  from  General  SuUi- 
van  an  order  of  reprieve  for  three  men  of  the  army,  who  were 
sentenced  to  death  by  that  inexorable  tribunal,  a  Court  Mar- 
tial. The  moment  he  obtained  the  order  revoking  the  sentence, 
he  mounted  his  horse  at  the  general's  door,  and  by  pushing 
him  to  his  utmost  speed,  arrived  at  the  place  of  execution  at 
the  instant  the  last  act  had  begun,  which  was  to  precipitate 
them  into  eternity.  With  a  voice  which  none  could  disobey,  he 
commanded  the  execution  to  stay,  and  delivered  the  general's 
order  to  the  officer  of  the  guard.  The  joy  of  the  attending 
crowd  seemed  greater  than  that  of  the  subjects  of  mercy ; 
they  were  called  so  suddenly  to  life,  from  the  last  verge  of 
death,  they  did  not,  for  a  moment,  feel  that  it  was  a  reality. 


204  THE  AMERICAN  CLEHGT. 


REV.  D.  TINSLEY. 


Time  was,  when,  under  other  government,  persecution  was 
rile  in  our  land.  The  Rev.  David  Tinsley  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, about  1749.  He  preached  with  Samuel  Harris,  the 
Virginia  apostle,  and  Jeremiah  Walker,  and  as  the  result,  was 
imprisoned  four  months  and  sixteen  days,  in  the  winter  season, 
in  Chesterfield  jail.  Through  the  grates  of  his  prison  he  pro- 
claimed the  Saviour  to  hundreds  who  came  to  listen.  Hi> 
enemies  burned  red  pepper  and  tobacco  in  order  to  sufFocat 
him,  but  he  continued  to  preach. 


REV.  DR.  COKE. 


This  eminent  minister,  who  to  a  very  great  extent  obeyed 
the  Divine  command,  "  Go  ye,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every 
creature,"  extended  his  labours  to  the  most  distant  parts  of  the 
earth,  and  preached  in  the  greatest  variety  of  situations,  and 
under  the  most  varied  circumstances.  At  Raleigh,  the  seat  of 
government  for  North  Carolina,  he  obtained  the  use  of  the 
House  of  Assembly  ;  the  members  of  both  houses  attended, 
and  the  speaker's  scat  served  for  a  pulpit.  At  Annapolis,  he 
occupied  the  theatre.  "  Pit,  boxes,  and  gallery,"  says  he, 
"were  filled  with  people,  according  to  their  ranks  in  life;  and 
I  stood  upon  the  stage,  and  preached  to  them,  though  at  first, 
I  confess,  I  felt  a  little  awkward." 

But  preaching  in  the  forests  delighted  Coke  the  most.  "  It 
is,"  said  he,  "  one  of  my  most  delightful  entertainments,  to 
embrace  every  opportunity  of  engulfing  myself,  if  I  may  so 
express  it,  in  the  woods  :  I  seem  then  to  be  detached  from 
every  thing  but   the  quiet  vegetable  creation,  and   my  God. 


REV.    DR.    CHAPLIN.  205 

Sometimes  a  most  noble  vista,  of  half  a  mile  or  a  mile  in 
length,  would  open  between  the  lofty  pines  ;  sometimes  the 
tender  fawns  and  hinds  would  suddenly  appear,  and  on  seeing 
or  hearing  us,  would  glance  through  the  woods,  or  vanish 
away.  The  deep  green  of  the  pines,  the  bright  transparent 
green  of  the  vales,  and  the  fine  white  of  the  dogwood  flowers, 
with  other  trees  and  shrubs,  form  such  a  complication  of  beau- 
ties, and  is  indescribable  to  those  who  have  lived  in  countries 
that  are  almost  entirely  cultivated." 

The  manner  of  tracing  the  preacher  was  curious ;  when  a 
new  circuit  in  the  woods  was  formed,  at  every  turning  of  the 
road  or  path,  the  preacher  split  two  or  three  bushes,  as  a  di- 
rection for  those  that  came  after  him,  and  notice  was  sent 
round  to  the  neighbourhood  at  what  place  he  was  going  to 
preach. 


REV.  DR.  CHAPLIN. 


It  is  related  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Jeremiah  Chaplin,  as  an 
illustration  of  his  unwearied  industry,  that  while  he  was  yet  a 
student  at  Brown  University,  a  neighbouring  clergyman  made 
some  inquiries  into  the  peculiarities  and  merits  of  Dr.  Hop- 
kins' Body  of  Divinity,  then  just  published,  and  was  answered, 
"  Ask  Chaplin,  he  can  tell  you."  Dr.  Pattison,  in  his  funeral 
oration,  says  that  he  acted  to  the  fullest  extent  on  the  maxim, 
"  Never  to  ask  another  to  do  that  for  him  which  he  could  do 
for  himself." 


18 


206  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


REV.  DR.  RICE. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  John  H.  Rice  was  an  eminently  distinguished 
Presbyterian  minister  in  Virginia,  and  for  some  years  editor 
of  the  Evangelical  and  Literary  Magazine.  After  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  ,..1831,  a  series  of  resolutions  intended  to 
govern  his  conduct  was  found,  among  which  were  the  following : 
— "  Never  spare  person,  property  or  reputation,  if  I  can  do  good  ; 
necessary  that  I  should  die  poor.  Endeavour  to  feel  kindly  to 
every  one  ;  never  indulge  anger,  envy,  or  jealousy  towards  any 
human  being.  Endeavour  to  act  so  as  to  advance  the  present 
comfort,  the  intellectual  improvement,  and  the  purity  and  moral 
good  of  my  fellow-men." 


REV.  DR.  PAYSON. 


Never  has  the  ruling  passion  been  more  strongly  exempli- 
fied in  the  hour  of  death  than  in  the  case  of  this  excellent  mi- 
nister. His  love  for  preaching  was  as  invincible  as  that  of  the 
miser  for  gold,  who  dies  grasping  his  treasure.  He  directed  a 
label  to  be  attached  to  his  breast  when  dead,  with  the  admo- 
nition, "  Remember  the  words  which  I  spake  unto  you  while 
I  was  yet  present  with  you  ;"  that  they  might  be  read  by  all 
who  came  to  look  at  his  corpse,  and  by  which  he,  being  dead, 
still  spoke.  The  same  words  were,  at  the  request  of  his  peo- 
ple, engraved  on  the  plate  of  the  coffin,  and  read  by  thousands 
on  the  day  of  his  interment. 


BEV.    DR.    BYLES.  207 


REV.  JOHN  SHEPHERD. 

Op  one  of  the  eminent  men  bearing  this  name,  it  is  recorded 
that  he  was  greatly  distinguished  for  his  success  in  the  pulpit. 
When  on  his  death-bed  he  said  to  some  young  ministers  who 
vvere  present,  "  The  secret  of  my  success  is  in  these  three 
things : — 

"  1.  The  studying  of  my  sermons  very  frequently  costs  me 
tears. 

"  2.  Before  I  preached  a  sermon  to  others  I  derived  good 
from  it  myself. 

"  3.  I  have  always  gone  into  the  pulpit  as  if  I  were  immedi- 
ately after  to  render  an  account  to  my  Master." 

All  who  knew  that  devoted  man  would  have  united  in  express- 
ins:  his  secret  in  three  words — "  In  the  closet." 


REV.  DR.  BYLES. 


Dr.  Mather  Byles,  of  Boston,  in  a  period  of  great  politi- 
cal excitement,  was  asked  why  he  did  not  preach  politics.  He 
replied,  "  I  have  thrown  up  four  breast-works,  behind  which  I 
have  entrenched  myself;  neither  of  which  can  be  forced.  In 
the  first  place,  I  do  not  understand  politics ;  in  the  second 
place,  you  all  do,  every  one  of  you ;  in  the  third  place,  you 
have  politics  all  the  week — pray,  let  one  day  in  seven  be  de- 
voted to  religion  ;  in  the  fourth  place,  I  am  engaged  in  a  work 
of  infinitely  greater  importance.  Give  me  any  subject  to 
preach  on,  of  more  consequence  than  the  truths  I  bring  to  you, 
and  I  will  preach  on  it  the  next  Sabbath." 


208  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


REV.  DR.  DWIGHT. 

Every  year's  experience,  in  the  ministry  of  this  country, 
shows  the  vast  importance  of  scriptural  exposition.  Let  min- 
isters be  encouraged  to  discharge  this  duty,  from  the  advan- 
tages derived  from  it,  as  stated  by  Dr.  Dwight.  He  says,  "  I 
took  up  the  practice  of  expounding  the  Scriptures,  when  I  was 
a  minister  of  a  parish.  I  never  was  thanked  so  much  for  any 
other  sermons  as  for  those.  For  this  reason,  I  think  it  is 
necessary  to  explain  the  plainer  truths  of  the  Scripture,  as  well 
as  the  more  intricate." 


REV.  DR.  NOTT. 

The  following  extract,  from  the  Norwich  (Conn.)  Courier, 
February,  1848,  while  it  shows  the  deserved  respect  due  to  a 
venerable  Christian  minister,  will  be  read  with  interest,  "  for  a 
good  while  to  come  :" — 

On  Monday,  of  last  week,  the  people  of  Franklin,  Conn.,  to 
the  number  of  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty,  made  their  annual 
visit  to  their  venerable  pastor,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Nott.  They  have, 
for  a  number  of  years,  celebrated  his  birthday  in  a  similar 
manner.  The  doctor  having  reached  the  very  advanced  age 
of  ninety-four  years  on  Sunday,  the  23d  of  January,  his 
parishioners  fixed  upon  the  Monday  following  for  their  anni- 
versary occasion. 

The  day  being  propitious,  at  an  early  hour  the  old  time- 
honoured  mansion  was  filled  with  happy,  warm-hearted  friends, 
of  every  age,  from  the  octogenarian  to  the  child  of  a  year, 
embracing  whole  families  as  well  as  solitary  individuals,  and 
including  not  only  those  who  were  upon  the  stage  sixty-six 


A    POPULAR    MINISTER.  209 

years  ago,  but  the  contemporaries  also  to  the  sixth  generation ; 
all  commingling  in  happy  groups,  each  anxious  to  salute  and 
honour  their  devoted  pastor,  whose  birthday  had  brought  them 
together. 

For  all  this  long  period  he  has  officiated  statedly,  without 
the  aid  of  a  colleague,  and  has  been  kept  from  the  pulpit  but 
eUven  Sundays^  through  indisposition.  We  think  a  like  case 
can  hardly  be  found,  in  which  so  great  an  amount  of  ministe- 
rial labour  has  been  performed,  by  the  same  individual,  for  so 
long  a  period. 


A  POPULAR  MINISTER. 


An  eminent  and  deservedly  popular  preacher  contmued, 
after  his  introduction  to  the  pastoral  office,  to  live  in  the  free 
and  generous  manner  to  which  he  had  beeiv  previously  accus- 
tomed, and  in  which  his  pecuniary  circumstances  allowed  him 
to  indulge.  His  table  contained  every  thing  to  stimulate  and 
to  gratify  the  appetite.  He  had  soon  to  complain  of  headache, 
giddiness,  and  other  like  symptoms.  After  suffering  in  mind 
and  body  for  a  length  of  time,  he  was  led  to  the  philosophical 
examination  of  his  own  case ;  and  the  conclusion  to  which  he 
came  was,  that  he  must  entirely  change  his  mode  of  living,  or 
pay  a  heavy  penalty  in  the  loss  of  health,  or  perhaps  life  itself. 
On  this  conviction  he  acted;  and  he  says:  "I  soon  lost  all 
relish  for  wine  or  porter,  or  any  thing  of  the  kind ;  and  I  now 
regard  them  with  dislike,  if  not  with  positive  loathing ;  and  for 
tea  or  coffee,  I  have  no  longer  the  least  appetite.  I  now  relish 
plain  food  with  a  greater  zest  than  I  ever  did  highly  seasoned 
dishes,  when  my  taste  was  perverted  by  unnatural  stimulants  ; 
and  yet  I  eat  as  great  or  a  greater  variety  than  I  then  did,  I 
now  enjoy  that  perfect  health,  buoyancy  of  spirits,  and  corpo- 

18* 


210  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

real  and  mental  energy  to  which  I  was  ever  before  a  stranger; 
and  no  inducement  on  earth  can  have  sufficient  influence  to 
cause  me  to  return  to  my  former  mode  of  living,  for  I  regard 
it  almost  with  horror." 


REV.  DR.  PORTER. 

It  wa^  one  of  the  excellent  resolutions  of  the  late  Dr.  Porter, 
of  Andovef,  that  he  would  never  identify^  nor  by  his  example, 
tempt  others  to  identify  religion  with  yaelayiclioly ;  "  for," 
says  he,  "  if  I  were  to  paint  a  Pharisee,  I  should  give  him  a 
sad  countenance ;  but  if  an  angel  or  my  Saviour,  a  cheerful 
one.  The  fact  that  painters,  who  are  strangers  to  vital  godli- 
ness, so  generally,  in  representing  Christ,  give  him  the  aspect 
of  sadness,  I  will  endeavour  to  make  instructive  to  myself." 


A  MISSIONARY  TO  THE  INDIANS. 

Sir  William  Phips,  a  governor  of  New  England,  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  was  a  man  of  great 
Christian  excellence.  He  maintained  a  missionary  to  the  In- 
dians, and  that  missionary  was  of  the  right  kind.  When  the 
governor  first  proposed  the  mission  to  him,  he  replied,  "I  shall 
probably  endanger  my  life  by  going  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the 
Frenchified  Indians ;  but  I  know  that  it  will  be  in  the  service, 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  therefore  I  will  venture  to  go." 


REV.    DR.    BEECHER.  211 


REV.  DR.  BEECHER. 


The  venerable  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher  says,  "  we  need  simple 
and  effective  preaching,  clear,  discriminating  and  doctrinal. 
Fine  polished  style,  painted  rainbows,  are  of  no  use.  Give  me 
the  close  preaching  which  reaches  the  conscience,  and  makes 
the  sinner  say — that  means  me."  You  may  as  ivell  throw 
a  whole  apothecary's  shop  at  a  patient^  to  cure  him  of  his 
sickness,  as  to  preach  without  having  your  sermons  close  and 
practical  in  their  application. 


The  following  narrative  was  given  by  the  worthy  Doctor,  at 
the  social  fire-side,  after  his  return  from  Fort  Wayne — a  town 
north  of  Indiana — where  he  was  called  to  attend  a  protracted 
meeting,  and  also  to  assist  in  the  ordination  of  one  of  his  sons. 

Well,  our  b^  it.  landed  at  St.  Mary's  about  seven  o'clock, 
Friday  afternoon,  and  there  were  over  sixty-two  miles  of  hard 
road  between  me  and  Fort  Wayne,  and  I  knew  if  I  didn't 
make  a  bold  push  I  could  not  get  there  before  Sunday. 

A  gentleman  who  knew  me  came  to  the  boat,  as  we  landed, 
and  took  me  to  his  house.  Understanding  I  was  bound  for 
Fort  Wayne,  he  said, 

"You  will  remain  with  me  to-night — for  of  course  you  can't 
think  of  going  on." 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  must  get  over  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  to-night." 

"  Oh  !  impossible !  the  road  is  horrid,  and  it  will  be  very 
dark." 

"  Can't  help  that,  I  must  go." 

"Why,  but,  doctor,  you  don't  know  any  thing  about  it.  I 
would  not  risk  my  own  neck  on  that  road." 

"Very  likely  you  wouldn't— but  I  think  T  must  try  it." 

"Well,"  said  my  friend,  "if  you  are  so  bent  upon  it,  and 
will  rest  till  ten  o'clock,  the  moon  will  rise  then,  and  I  will 


213  THE    A3IERICAN    CLERGY. 

■  take  my  horse,  and  go  with  you,  and  pilot  you  through  the 
first  fifteen  miles." 

Well,  I  thanked  him,  and  after  supper  went  and  lay  down 
to  rest,  and  at  ten  o'clock  he  called  me,  and  the  moon  was  up 
cind  our  horses  ready,  and  we  took  to  our  saddles — and  well 
it  was  that  he  went  with  me,  for  sure  enough  I  never  could 
iiave  found  the  horrible  way — deep  in  woods — half  the  time 
midleg  deep  in  mud,  amid  stumps  and  logs,  and  sometimes 
black  sloughs,  and  places  where  we  had  to  turn  off  the  track 
and  make  a  circuit  of  a  mile  through  the  woods  on  the  right, 
and  then  come  back  and  just  strike  the  path,  and  diverge  off 
for  a  mile  on  the  left.  We  must  have  made  as  much  as  eight 
miles  additional  in  these  crossings.  At  last,  between  two  and 
three  o'clock  at  night,  we  came  out  of  the  worst  of  it,  on  to  a 
tolerable  Western  road,  and  as  there  was  a  little  village  there, 
I  thanked  my  guide,  and  told  him  I  would  not  trouble  him  to 
go  farther;  so  he  stopped  to  lodge  in  the  village.  As  for  me, 
I  felt  lively  and  brisk,  and  the  moon  shone  clear,  and  I  thought 
I  would  just  hold  on  the  rest  of  the  night.  About  day-break 
I  got  into  the  town  of  Wiltshire,  where  I  slept  two  hours,  took 
breakfast,  and  then  went  on.  At  three  o'clock  I  came  within 
eleven  miles  of  Fort  Wayne,  and  really,  I  can  tell  you,  I  did 
feel  tired — almost  worn  out.  I  didn't  know  but  I  had  gone 
beyond  the  work.  I  stopped  an  hour  for  dinner,  and  jogged 
on.  Soon  a  young  man  overtook  me,  and  company  and  talk 
revived  me,  and  seemed  to  revive  my  horse  too,  for  he  pricked 
up,  and  the  first  I  knew  we  came  right  into  Fort  Wayne.  It 
was  five  o'clock,  and  I  had  travelled,  as  I  reckon,  with  all  the 
windings  and  turnings,  seventy-two  miles  since  ten  o'clock  the 
nisht  before.  I  bathed  all  over  in  cold  water,  and  then  in 
spirits,  went  to  bed  at  nine  o'clock,  and  slept  soundly  and 
sweetly,  and  rose  the  next  morning  fresh  and  bright,  without 
soreness  or  fatigue.  Preached  twice  that  day  with  great  de- 
light and  freedom,  visited  all  day  Monday  and  part  of  Tues- 


A   DEVOTED    PASTOR.  213 

day,  and  preached  Tuesday,  Wednesday,  and  Thursday,  be- 
sides  studying  and  writing. 

How  many  ministers  in  the  prime  of  life  would  be  willing 
to  make  equal  effort,  rather  than  encroach  on  the  Sabbath  in 
travelling  to  their  place  of  preaching?  How  many  young 
candidates  at  the  East,  are  willing  to  go  West  and  do  Dr.  B.'s 
labour,  for  Dr.  B.'s  salary,  which  is  simply  trusting  in  God. 


A  DEVOTED  PASTOR. 


In  a  time  of  revival  in  a  certain  church  and  congregation, 
the  pastor  urged  one  of  his  brethren,  an  able  and  skilful  law- 
yer, to  converse  with  a  scoffing  infidel  of  their  acquaintance. 
"  You  know,"  said  he,  "  that  Mr.  R.  comprehends  an  able  ar- 
gument as  well  as  any  of  us ;  and  you  and  I  have  often  seen 
how  his  eye  will  kindle  under  a  compact  and  well-drawn  argu- 
ment. Now,  can  you  not  go  over,  with "  him,  the  proofs  on 
which  the  Christian  system  rests?" 

"  I  have  done  that  already,"  said  the  lawyer,  "  and  he 
heard  me  through  patiently,  and  then  pounced  upon  my  argu- 
ments like  a  tiger  on  his  prey.  Then  he  wound  up  with  bitter 
reproaches,  which  made  me  dread  to  encounter  him  again." 

One  of  the  elders  of  the  same  church  had  been  also  to  visit 
the  infidel,  and  met  with  a  like  reception,  and  he  had  made 
similar  objections  to  his  pastor  to  visiting  the  infidel  again. 
But  on  a  subsequent  evening  he  was  led,  by  the  Spirit  of  God, 
to  wrestle  before  the  throne  with  most  agonizing  prayer  in  that 
infidel's  behalf.  At  intervals  he  continued  all  night  presenting 
his  case  before  God,  and  praying  for  his  conversion  and  sal- 
vation, as  a  man  would  pray  for  a  friend's  life  on  the  eve  of 
his  execution. 


214  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

Prayer  was  followed  by  corresponding  effcjrt,  and  not  long 
after,  iu  the  crowded  church,  Mr.  R.  stood  up,  a  changed  man, 
to  relate  his  Christian  experience ! 

"  1  am  as  a  brand,"  said  he,  "  plucked  out  of  the  burning. 
The  change  in  my  views  and  feelings  is  astonishing  to  myself; 
and  all  brought  about  by  the^  grace  of  God  and  that  unanswer- 
able argument. 

"  It  was  a  cold  morning  in  January,  and  I  had  just  begun 
my  labor  at  the  anvil  in  my  shop,  when  I  looked  out  and  saw 

Elder  B approaching.     As  he  drew  near,  I  saw  he  was 

agitated — his  look  was  full  of  earnestness.  His  eyes  were 
bedimmed  with  tears.  He  took  me  by  the  hand.  His  breast 
heaved  with  emotion,  and  with  indescribable  tenderness,  he 

said,  '  Mr.  R ,  I  am  greatly  concerned  for  your  salvation !' 

and  he  burst  into  tears.  He  often  essayed  to  speak,  but  not  a 
word  could  he  utter ;  and  finding  that  he  could  say  no  more, 
he  turned,  went  out  of  the  shop,  mounted  his  horse,  and  rode 
slowly  away. 

" '  Greatly  concerned  for  my  salvation^''  said  I  audibly,  and 
I  stood  and  forgot  to  bring  my  hammer  down  !  '  Greatly  con- 
cerned for  my  salvation.''  Here  is  a  new  argument,  thought 
I,  for  religion,  which  I  never  heard  before,  and  I  know  not  how 
to  answer  it.  Had  the  elder  reasoned  with  me,  I  could  have 
confounded  him ;  but  here  is  no  threadbare  argument  for  the 
truth  of  religion.  Religion  must  move  the  soul  with  benevo- 
lent, holy,  mighty  impulses,  or  this  man  would  not  feel  as  he 
does.  '  Greatly  concerned  for  my  salvation' — it  rung 
through  my  ears  like  a  thunder-clap  in  a  clear  sky.  '  Greatly 
concerned  ought  I  to  be  for  my  own  salvation,'  said  I ;  '  what 
shall  I  do  to  be  saved  V  " 

"  I  went  into  my  house.     My  poor  pious  wife,  whom  I  had 

so  often  ridiculed  for  her  religion,  exclaimed,  'Why,  Mr.  R , 

what  is  the  matter  with  you  V     '  Matter  enough,'  said  I,  filled 
with  agony-r— '  Matter  enough.     Elder  B.  has  ridden  two  miles 


DR.    COTTON    MATHER.  215 

this  cold  morning  to  tell  me  he  was  greatly  concerned  for  my 
salvation.  What  shall  I  do  V  She  advised  me  to  go  and  see 
him.  No  sooner  said  than  done.  I  mounted  my  horse,  and 
pursued  after  him.  I  found  him  alone  in  that  same  little  room 
where  he  had  spent  the  whole  night  in  prayer  for  my  poor 
soul.  '  I  am  come,'  said  I  to  him,  *  to  tell  you  I  am  greatly 
concerned  for  mv  own  salvation.' 

"  '  Praised  be  God,'  said  the  elder.  '  It  is  a  faithful  saying, 
and  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that  Jesus  Christ  came  into  the 
world  to  save  sinners,  even  the  very  chief;'  and  he  began  at 
that  same  Scripture,  and  preached  unto  me  Jesus.  On  that 
same  floor  we  knelt,  and  together  we  prayed,  and  we  did  not 
separate  that  day  till  Gorl  spoke  peace  to  my  soul.  And  here 
permit  me  to  say,  if  you  would  reach  the  heart  of  such  a 
poor  sinner  as  I,  you  must  get  your  qualification  where  the 
good  elder  did  his,  in  your  closet  and  on  your  knees.' "  That 
converted  infidel  long  outlived  the  elder,  and  was  the  means 
of  the  conversion  of  many. 


DR.  COTTON  MATHER. 


Doctor  Cotton  Mather,  who  was  born  at  Boston,  in  the 
seventeenth  century,  commenced  a  life  of  the  most  active  bene- 
ficence when  very  young ;  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  adopted 
as  a  maxim,  that  a  power  and  an  opportunity  to  do  good,  not 
only  give  the  right  of  doing  it,  but  make  it  a  positive  duty. 
On  this  maxim  he  determined  to  act ;  and  continued  to  do  so 
.during  the  remainder  of  his  days.  Accordingly  he  began  in 
his  father's  family,  by  doing  all  the  good  in  his  power  to  his 
brothers  and  sisters,  and  to  the  servants.  After  he  had  attained 
to  man's  estate,  he  imposed  on  himself  a  rule,  "  never  to  enter 
any  company  where  it  was  proper  for  him  to  speak,  without 


216  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

endeavouring  to  be  useful  in  it ;  dropping,  as  opportunities  might 
offer,  some  instructive  hint  or  admonition."  By  way  of  im- 
proving every  moment  of  his  time,  he  avoided  paying  and  re- 
ceiving unnecessary  visits ;  and,  to  prevent  intrusion,  he  caused 
to  be  written,  in  large  characters,  over  the  door  of  his  study, 
these  admonitory  words,  "Be  short."  Not  a  day  passed  with- 
out some  contrivance,  on  his  part,  "  To  do  good ;"  nor  with- 
out his  being  able  to  say,  at  the  close  of  it,  that  some  part  of 
his  income  had  been  distributed  for  pious  purposes.  This  is 
an  example  highly  worthy  of  imitation. 


Many  men  have  accomplished  wonders  by  a  constant  regard 
to  method.  Every  business  should  be  done  in  its  proper  place, 
and  at  the  proper  time.  Dr.  C.  Mather  was  remarkable  in  his 
conduct,  and  for  what  he  did.  Besides  the  discharge  of  pas- 
toral duties  in  a  large  church,  the  care  of  a  family,  an  extended 
correspondence,  an  ^attention  to  the  interests  of  numerous  pub- 
lic societies,  he  wrote  not  less  than  three  hundred  and  eighty- 
two  distinct  pieces,  large  and  small,  for  the  press.  That  all 
his  pursuits  might  have  their  proper  places,  he  used  to  propose 
to  himself  a  certain  question  in  the  morning  of  every  day,  as 
follows : — 

LorcVs-day  'morning. — What  shall  I  do,  as  the  pastor  of  a 
church,  for  the  good  of  the  flock  under  my  charge? 

Monday. — What  shall  I  do  for  my  family,  and  for  the  good 
of  it? 

Tuesday. — What  shall  I  do  for  my  relations  abroad  ? 

Wednesday. — What  shall  I  do  for  the  churches  of  the  Lord, 
and  the  more  general  interests  of  religion  in  the  world? 

Thursday, — What  good  may  I  do  in  the  several  societies  to 
which  I  belong? 

Friday. — What  special  subjects  of  affliction  and  of  com- 


REV.    Msil.    lAittLUS.  217 

passion  may  I  take  under  my  particular  care,  and  what  shall 
I  do  for  them? 

Saturday. — What  more  -have  I  to  do  for  the  interests  of 
God,  in  my  own  heart  and  life? 


REV.  MR.  BAILEY. 


Good  old  Mr.  Bailey,  one  of  the  first  divines  of  New  Eng- 
land, says  that  his  earnest  desire  was  to  get  up  his  soul  to 
three  things : — Patience  under  the  calamities  of  life ;  impa- 
tience under  the  sinful  infirmities  of  life  ,*  and  earnest  longings 
after  a  better  life. 


REV.  MR.  BACKUS. 


The  following  anecdote  is  sometimes  related  by  aged  Chris- 
tians in  New  England : — An  unpleasant  rupture  took  place 
between  the  Rev.  Mr.  Alden,  late  of  Bellingham,  and  a  Mr. 
Mann,  a  member  of  his  church.  All  attempts  for  a  reconcilia- 
tion were  in  vain.  At  length,  a  number  of  ministers  were 
called  together  for  consultation  and  advice ;  among  whom 
were  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Stillman,  of  Boston ;  Manning,  of  Pro- 
vidence ;  and  Backus,  of  Middleborough.  The  conference  was 
holden  at  the  house  of  the  Rev.  W.  Williams,  in  Wrentham, 
and  they  spent  the  afternoon,  and  almost  all  the  following 
night,  in  their  pious  efforts ;  but  the  parties  were  unyielding, 
and  there  was  not  the  least  prospect  of  a  settlement.  For  a  long 
time,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Backus,  author  of  "  The  Church  History 
of  New  England,"  and  other  excellent  works,  had  sat  with  his 
head  bowed  down,  and  appeared  to  be  sleeping.    A  little  before 

r 


218  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

break  of  day,  Mr.  B.  rose  up,  saying,  "  Let  us  look  to  the 
Throne  of  Grace  once  more ;"  and  then  knelt  down  and 
prayed.  The  spirit  and  tone  of  his  prayer  were  such  as  to 
make  every  one  feel  that  the  heart-searching  God  had  come 
down  among  them.  The  result  was,  the  contending  parties 
began  immediately  to  melt ;  and  the  rising  sun  saw  the  rup- 
ture healed  and  closed  up  for  ever. 

I  have  often  heard  that  good  man  pray.  The  efficacy  of 
his  prayers  did  not  consist  in  length,  nor  in  their  gaudy  dress  ; 
but  it  seemed  that  he  and  his  God  loved  each  other,  and  that 
he  was  at  home  before  the  Throne  of  Grace.  I  heard  the  last 
sermon  which  he  ever  preached.  It  was  delivered  in  his  own 
dwelling-house,  from  1  Peter  ii.  9.  I  remember  well  the  piety, 
pathos,  and  unusual  earnestness,  which  characterized  that  dis- 
course.    His  religion  made  him  willing  to  die. 


REV.  DR   MERCER. 


Few  ministers  were  ever  more  remarkable  for  punctuality 
in  fulfilling  his  engagements,  than  Dr.  Mercer.  He  never 
found  a  difficulty  in  surmounting  comparatively  small  impedi- 
ments. For  instance,  if  he  came  to  a  creek  swollen  to  a  dan- 
gerous torrent,  he  could  strip  his  horse,  drive  him  across  the 
stream,  and  with  his  saddle  and  saddle-bags  on  his  back, 
search  out  for  himself  a  crossing-place  on  some  log  or  fallen 
tree.  This  he  once  did  on  his  way  to  a  Saturday  meeting. 
At  the  next  monthly  meeting,  some  of  the  brethren,  in  making 
their  excuses  for  absence  at  the  previous  Conference,  observed 
that  they  started  for  the  meeting,  but,  upon  finding  the  creek 
impassable,  they  returned.  His  reply  was  very  characteristic  * 
"  If  you  had  waited  a  little  longer,  I  would  have  shown  you 
the  way." 


BISHOP   ASBURY.  219 

On  another  occasion,  while  travelling,  he  was  compelled,  by 
high  waters,  to  turn  aside  and  spend  the  Sabbath  with  a  picvus 
family.  He  walked  the  room  in  great  disquietude  of  spiiit; 
and,  on  being  asked  the  cause  of  his  uneasiness,  he  replied, 
"  Ah !  I  feel  like  a  fish  out  of  water;  this  is  the  very  first  time, 
since  the  commencement  of  my  ministry,  that  I  have  been 
absent  from  public  worship  on  the  Sabbath,  when  my  health 
would  allow  my  attendance. 


BISHOP  ASBURY. 


This  worthy  bishop,  in  1798,  on  a  journey  to  Charleston, 

S.  C,  passed  a  creek  in  the  parish  of  St. ,  on  the  bank 

of  which  sat  a  slave,  fishing,  and  humming  a  tune.  He  was 
called  Punch,  and  was  notorious  for  his  vicious  character. 
The  pious  bishop  rode  towards  him,  deliberately  proceeded  to 
alight,  fastened  the  horse  to  a  tree,  and  seated  himself  by  the 
side  of  the  slave. 

As  the  slave  seemed  willing,  the  bishop  commenced  a  mi- 
nute and  close  conversation  with  him  on  religion.  Punch 
began  to  feel ;  tears  ran  down  his  sable  cheeks;  he  appeared 
alarmed  at  his  danger  as  a  sinner;  and  intently  listened  to  the 
counsels  of  the  singular  stranger.  After  a  long  conversation, 
the  bishop  sung  the  hymn, 

"  Plunged  in  a  gulf  of  dark  despair  ;** 

prayed  with  him,  and  pursued  his  journey.  More  than  twenty 
years  elapsed  before  he  agam  saw  or  heard  of  Punch. 

While  on  another  visit  to  Charleston,  he  was  called  upon  by 
an  aged  and  Christian  negro,  who  had  travelled  seventy  miles 
on  foot  to  visit  him.  It  was  the  slave  he  had  warned  and 
prayed  over,  on  the  bank  of  the  creek,  who  had  ever  since 


220  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

been  journeying  on  the  way  to  heaven.  When  the  bishop  left 
him,  on  the  bank  of  the  stream,  he  immediately  took  up  his 
fishing-tackle,  and  hastened  home  in  the  deepest  agitation,  pon- 
dering over  the  words  of  the  venerable  man.  After  some  days 
of  anguish  and  prayer,  he  found  peace  in  believing,  and  be- 
came a  new  man.  The  change  was  too  manifest  not  to  be 
discovered  by  his  fellow-servants — it  was  the  topic  of  his  con- 
versation with  them  incessantly.  In  his  simple  way,  he 
pointed  them  to  the  Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh  away  the  sins 
?)f  the  world,  and  many  of  them  became  thoroughly  penitent 
for  their  sins.  Throngs  of  the  neglected  Africans  resorted  to 
his  humble  cabin,  to  receive  his  exhortations  and  prayers.  A 
perverse  overseer,  who  had  charge  of  the  plantation,  perceiv- 
ing the  increasing  interest  of  the  slaves  for  their  souls,  and 
their  constant  attendance  in  the  evenings,  at  Punch's  cabin, 
determined  to  put  a  stop  to  the  spreading  leaven.  But,  on 
coming  one  night  to  break  up  a  meeting,  he  was  struck  under 
conviction,  fell  down  under  a  tree  near  by,  and  began  to  cry 
for  mercy.  The  negroes  gathered  around  him,  and  prayed 
with  him  till  God  in  his  mercy  pardoned  and  comforted  him. 
The  overseer  now  became  a  co-worker  with  Punch  among 
them  :  he  joined  the  Methodist  church,  and  in  time  became  an 
exhorter,  and  finally  a  preacher !  Punch  had  now  full  liberty 
to  do  good  among  his  associates.  He  exhorted,  prayed,  and 
led  them  on,  as  a  shepherd  his  flock,  and  extended  his  useful- 
ness around  the  whole  neighbourhood.  After  many  years,  he 
was  removed,  by  the  decease  of  his  master  and  the  distribution 
of  the  estate,  to  the  parish  of  A.,  where  he  continued  to  labour 
for  the  souls  of  his  fellow-bondmen  with  still  greater  success. 
Scores,  and  even  hundreds,  were  converted  through  his  instru- 
mentality ;  and  he  sustained  a  kind  of  pastoral  charge  over 
them  for  years. 


INTERCOURSE  OF  THE  CLERGY  WITH  EACH 

OTHER. 


(221) 


REV.    DR.    RODGERS.  223 


REV.  DR.  RODGERS. 


The  Rev.  Mr.  Forrest,  a  minister  of  the  Associate  Reform- 
ed Church,  in  speaking  of  the  late  Dr.  John  Rodgers,  of  New 
York,  says : — 

A  few  years  ago,  I  related  to  Dr.  Rodgers  an  anecdote  of  a 
Scottish  clergyman,  who,  while  preaching  from  Hebrews  xi. 
32,  "And  what  shall  I  more  say  1  for  the  time  would  fail  me 
to  tell  of  Gideon,"  &c.,  observed,  "  My  brethren,  here  are 
some  very  rough-spun  saints ;  really,  if  the  Spirit  of  God  had 
not  decided  this  matter,  it  would  have  been  hard  work  to  have 
admitted  them  among  the  number.  But,  my  brethren,  this 
teaches  us  that  if  we  get  to  heaven,  we  shall  see  many  folks 
there  that  we  did  not  expect.'  Dr.  Rodgers  observed,  yes,  my 
friend,  I  expect  to  see  in  heaven,  among  other  wonders,  three 
very  great  ones :  some  there  whom  I  did  not  expect  to  have 
seen  there ;  others  not  there,  whom  I  had  great  expectations 
of  seeing  there  ;  but  the  greatest  wonder  of  all,  will  be  to  see 
myself  there,  the  chief  of  sinners,  pardoned  and  sanctified  by 
the  grace  of  God. 


Dr.  Rodgers,  beautifully  exemplified  "  the  meekness  and 
gentleness  of  Christ,  "and  so  greatly  added  to  his  usefulness. 
A  young  clergyman  who  had  paid  a  short  visit  to  the  city,  and 
who  had  enjoyed  two  or  three  pleasant  interviews  with  the 
Dr.,  a  few  years  before  his  death,  at  the  close  of  the  last  in- 
terview, rose  and  offered  him  his  hand  for  the  purpose  of  bid- 
ding him  farewell.  The  Doctor  took  it,  and  squeezing  it  af- 
fectionately, with  a  very  few  simple  words,  expressive  of  pious 
hope,  and  tender  benediction,  dismissed  him.  The  clergyman 
on  retiring,  inquired,  whether  what  he  had  witnessed  was  the 


224  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

Doctor's  common  manner  of  taking  leave  of  his  friends  ?  add- 
ing that  he  had  seldom  seen  anything  so  much  like  the  primi- 
tive style  of  an  apostle  before.  There  have  been  better  days 
of  the  church,  when  such  things  vv^ere  not  rare.  Would  to 
God  they  were  less  so  now. 


Few  men  ever  determined  more  fully  to  live  while  he  lived, 
and  to  persevere  in  the  discharge  of  all  the  duties  of  life  than 
Dr.  Rodgers.  He  had  long  maintained  a  correspondence  with 
several  eminent  ministers  of  Great  Britain,  when  the  last  of 
them,  Dr.  Erskine,  of  Edinburgh,  died.  Mr.  Rodgers  at  that 
time  was  not  less  than  seventy-six,  but  he  said  he  believed  he 
must  open  a  correspondence  with  Dr.  Balfour  of  Glasgow,  as 
he  did  not  wish  to  be  without  a  friend  on  that  side  of  the  At- 
lantic, with  whom  he  could  occasionaily  exchange  letters.  Dr. 
Miller  very  wisely  remarks  that  the  premature  dotage  of  many 
distinguished  men  has  arisen  from  their  ceasing  in  advanced 
life,  to  exert  their  faculties,  under  the  impression  that  tb«y 
were  too  old  to  engage  in  any  new  enterprise. 


THOUGHTLESS  MINISTERS. 


Few  things  can  be  more  important  than  that  Christian  Min- 
isters should  be  careful  of  the  manner  in  which  they  speak  of 
each  other.  The  influence  for  good  or  for  evil,  on  themseU'es 
and  on  all  who  hear  them  is  very  great.  A  respectable  pastor, 
some  time  since,  was  speaking  of  a  brother  in  the  same  com- 
munion, and  concluded  his  remarks  with  the  exclamation,  "Ah, 
he  is  a  snake  in  the  grass !"  A  venerable  minister  at  the  same 
time  remarked  of  another,  "  He  is  as  full  of  venom  as  a  ser 


REV.    DR.    HARRIS.  225 

(tent."  Can  any  of  our  readers  tell  the  results  of  this  kind  of 
remark  on  young  people  standing  by  ?  Would  it  not  have 
been  far  better  for  the  brother  to  have  gone  to  each  offender, 
and  in  "  the  meekness  and  gentleness  of  Christ"  to  have  point- 
ed out  his  fault,  and  thus  to  have  "gained  his  brother?" 


REV.  DR.  STANFORD 


In  one  of  the  lectures  addressed  to  his  students,  on  the  com- 
position of  sermons,  this  excellent  man  says : — "  I  cannot 
deny  myself  the  pleasure  of  stating,  that  many  years  ago,  I 
met  with  a  plain,  yet  good  old  minister,  who,  in  conversation 
with  me,  on  the  subject  of  the  composition  of  a  sermon,  very 
pleasantly  said,  "  I  know  of  no  better  rule  than  the  propor- 
tions observable  in  the  structure  of  the  human  body.  Let 
your  introduction  be  short,  like  the  head  of  the  man,  round, 
and  full  of  expression.  Make  up  the  body  of  your  sermon  of 
the  solids  of  divine  truth ;  but  be  sure  that  Christ  be  the  heart, 
and  the  Spirit  of  God  like  the  lungs,  to  produce  respiration. 
The  legs  to  run  after  every  class  of  your  hearers ;  and  a  pair 
of  arms  tenderly  to  embrace  them.  This  may  appear  to  you 
a  little  fanciful,  but  I  must  confess,  however  singular  the  de- 
scription, yet  to  my  mind,  it  seemed  worthy  of  being  remem- 
bered." 


REV.  DR.  HARRIS. 


Nothing  seems  more  awful  than  preaching  what  we  do  not 
ourselves  fully  believe ;  and  few  things  can  be  more  poignant 
than  the  reflection  of  having  in  this  way  preached  error.     A 


226  THE    A3IERICAN    CLERGY. 

Universalist  minister  once  spent  a  Sabbath  with  Dr.  Harris  of 
Dunbarton.  The  conversation  between  them  concluded  as  fol- 
lows : — The  doctor  fastened  his  eye  on  the  young  man,  saying, 
"  Do  you  know  for  certainty  that  your  doctrine  is  true  T  "  No, 
sir,"  the  youth  replied,  "  I  don't  pretend  to  a  certain  know- 
ledge of  the  truth  of  it."  The  doctor  added,  "  Then,  sir, 
don't  ever  preach  it  again  till  you  know  it  is  true."  A  year  or 
two  after  this  conversation  the  young  minister  renounced  his 
Universalism,  and  indulged  a  hope  that  he  had  experienced  a 
change  of  heart. 


A  MINISTER  IN  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

A  ministers'  meeting  was  held,  a  few  years  since,  in  New 
Hampshire,  at  which  was  present  an  excellent  clergyman, 
since  removed  to  heaven.  It  was  just  after  a  time  of  general 
revival  throughout  the  country,  and  his  brethren  generally 
were  telling  what  thet/  had  done,  how  many  persons  had  been 
converted  under  their  preaching,  &c.  Our  excellent  friend, 
who  was  eminent  for  his  humble  piety,  and  who  was  the  suc- 
cessor of  an  aged  and  long  successful  minister  of  Christ,  sat 
and  listened  for  some  time  to  their  conversation,  till  at  length 
they  turned  to  him  and  inquired  the  secret  of  the  revival  in 
his  church.  After  some  hesitation  he  arose,  and,  with  a  man- 
ner and  tone  which  made  a  great  impression,  said,  "  My  pre- 
decessor was  a  very  godly  man,  and,  in  answer  to  his  prayers, 
I  trust  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  souls  have  been  con- 
verted to  God  !"  He  then  sat  down.  Every  one  felt  the 
reproof,  and  the  effect  on  those  who  had  been  telling  what  I 
had  done,  can  be  better  imagined  than  described. 


REV.    GIDEON    HAWLEY.  227 


REV.  GIDEON  HAWLEY. 


Dr.  Dwight's  "Travels"  contain  a  deeply  interesting 
account  of  the  Rev.  G.  Hawley,  a  missionary  to  the  Indians  at 
Massapee,  and  who  remained  their  pastor  for  fifty-six  years, 
dying  in  1807,  in  his  eighty-first  year. 

At  the  time  of  the  visit  paid  to  him  by  Dr.  Dwight,  he  had 
a  favourite  son,  possessed  of  superior  talents  and  learning,  of 
distinguished  piety  and  high  reputation.  He  had  lately  come 
from  his  tutorship  at  Cambridge,  and  had  just  been  ordained 
to  the  ministry.  This  lovely  young  man  now  lay  in  a  dying 
state  ;  for  which,  however,  he  was  eminently  prepared,  looking 
forward  to  scenes  suited  to  the  elevated  taste  of  an  enlightened 
Christian,  with  the  utmost  serenity  and  confidence. 

The  venerable  father  was  fully  alive  to  the  circumstances  in 
which  he  was  placed.  He  saw  the  setting  of  his  fond  lumi- 
nous hopes  in  the  night  of  the  grave ;  and  the  lustre  which 
played  and  trembled  over  this  melancholy  scene  from  the  mind 
of  his  son,  brilliant  with  hopes  of  immortal  glory,  exhibited,  in 
their  union  and  their  alternations,  a  picture  equally  beautiful, 
solemn,  and  sublime.  Into  all  these  subjects,  the  father  entered 
familiarly,  and  appeared  equally  willing  to  go  with  his  son,  or  to 
stay  behind.  He  felt  deeply,  but  with  a  serene  submission.  He 
found  high  and  sufficient  consolation  in  the  character  of  Him 
from  whom  the  stroke  came.  He  showed,  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  put  suspicion  out  of  countenance,  the  affection  of  a  father; 
and  Christian  emotions,  which  a  worldling  or  an  infidel,  if  they 
could  understand  them,  would  deeply  envy. 

Nor  was  this  manifestation  of  affection  and  piety,  on  the 
part  of  this  venerable  minister,  without  a  happy  effect.  A 
young  gentleman,  who  accompanied  Dr.  Dwight  on  this  visit, 
who  was  educated  in  the  gay  world,  and,  as  he  himself  de- 
clared, sufficiently  addicted   to   its  enjoyments,   was  entirely 


228  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

overcome  by  the  scenes  of  this  interview.  After  they  had 
left  the  house,  he  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears,  which  he  had 
with  great  difficulty  suppressed  till  that  time,  and  was  unable 
to  utter  a  word  till  they  reached  the  inn.  In  broken  accents 
he  then  declared,  that  he  had  never  been  so  deeply  affected 
in  his  life ;  that  although  he  had  not  before  been  accustomed  to 
think  lightly  of  Christianity,  he  had  now  acquired  new  ideas 
of  its  excellence,  and  that,  should  he  ever  lose  them  again,  he 
should  consider  himself  guilty  as  well  as  unhappy.  Yet  the 
whole  conversation  had  been  rather  cheerful,  and  every  thing 
which  it  involved,  of  a  melancholy  nature,  had  been  gilded  by 
the  serenity  of  hope. 


A  MINISTER. 


A  CLERGYMAN  relates,  that  he  was  told  by  another  Christian 
minister,  that  he  one  day  gave  to  a  poor  man  in  his  congrega- 
tion a  tract ;  and,  seeing  him  afterwards,  asked  him  what  he 
thought  of  it.  "  Oh,  massa !"  said  he,  "  it  do  me  soul  good. 
I  never  knew  before  why  da  call  'em  tracks  ;  but  when  I  read 
that  little  book,  it  track  me  dis  way,  and  it  track  me  dat  way  ; 
it  track  me  all  day,  and  it  track  me  all  night :  when  1  go  out 
in  de  barn,  it  track  me  dare ;  when  I  go  out .  in  de  woods,  it 
track  me  dare ;  it  track  me  ebery  where  I  go ;  then  I  know 
why  da  call  'cm  tracks."  This  poor  man  became  a  sincere 
and  devoted  Christian. 


A    UMVERSALIST    PKEACHER.  22$ 


REV.  JOSEPH  CRAIG. 


Amoxgst  the  Baptist  pioneers  to  Kentucky,  was  the  eccen- 
tric Joseph  Craig.  His  brothers,  Lewis  and  Elijah,  were  dis- 
tinguished Baptist  preachers  in  Virginia,  and  afterwards  in  the 
wilds  of  Kentucky.  Joe,  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  obtained 
a  license  to  preach  also ;  for,  though  eccentric,  and  by  no 
means  gifted  as  an  expounder  of  Scripture,  he  could  exhort 
feelingly,  and  his  moral  character  was  good.  His  brothers 
were  so  dissatisfied  with  his  pulpit  efforts,  after  twenty  years' 
experience,  that,  on  a  church-meeting  day,  Lewis  gravely  pro- 
posed to  recall  his  license ;  and  gave  as  a  reason,  that  he 
never  heard  of  but  a  single  instance  of  the  preaching  of  Joe 
profiting  any  one,  and  that  was  an  old  negro  woman,  who,  in 
relating  her  experience,  mentioned  his  rambling  exhortation  as 
the  means  of  her  conversion.  By  this  time,  Joe  was  on  his 
feet,  the  tears  running  down  his  cheeks,  and,  clapping  his 
hands  repeatedly,  he  exclaimed,  "  Bless  the  Lord — thank  God 
for  that  I  I  will  preach  twenty  years  more,  to  be  the  instrument 
of  converting  another  poor  African."  Of  course  Joe  retained 
his  license. 


A  UNIVERSALIST  PREACHER. 

Dr.  Baird  has  well  observed,  in  his  excellent  volume  on 
*'  Religionf  in  America,*'  that  it  is  a  remarkable  fact,  established 
by  the  testimony  of  Universalists,  on  becoming  converted  to 
the  Truth,  that  few  can,  however  desirous,  ever  bring  ihem- 
sdves  to  believe  the  doctrine  of  universal  salvation.  Most  of 
them  are  like  the  New  England  farmer,  who,  at  the  close  of 
a  Universalist  service,  thanked  the  preacher  for  his  sermon, 
saying  that  he  vastly  liked  his  doctrine,  and  would  give  him 
five  dollars  if  he  would  only  prove  it  to  be  true. 

20 


230  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


REV.  DR.  LIVINGSTON. 

The  eminent,  pious,  and  learned  theologian.  Dr.  Livingston, 
related  to  me,  says  Dr.  Alexander,  not  many  years  before  his 
decease,  a  pleasing  anecdote,  which  I  communicate  to  the  pub- 
lic more  willingly,  because  I  do  not  know  that  he  has  left  any 
record  of  it  behind  him.  While  a  student  at  the  University  of 
Utrecht,  a  number  of  pious  persons,  from  the  town  and  among 
the  students,  were  accustomed  to  meet  for  free  conversation  on 
experimental  religion,  and  for  prayer  and  praise,  in  a  social 
capacity.  On  one  of  these  occasions,  when  the  similarity  of 
the  exercises  of  the  pious,  in  all  countries  and  ages,  was  the 
subject  of  conversation,  it  was  remarked  by  one  of  the  com- 
pany, that  there  was  then  present  a  representative  from  each 
of  the  four  quarters  of  the  world.  These  were.  Dr.  Livingston, 
from  America ;  a  young  man,  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
in  Africa ;  another  student,  from  one  of  the  Dutch  possessions 
in  the  East  Indies,  and  many  natives  of  Europe,  of  course.  It 
was  therefore  proposed,  that,  at  the  next  meeting,  the  three 
young  gentlemen  first  referred  to,  together  with  an  eminently 
pious  young  nobleman  of  Holland,  should  each  give  a  particu- 
lar narrative  of  the  rise  and  progress  of  the  work  of  grace  in 
his  soul.  The  proposal  was  universally  acceptable ;  and, 
accordingly,  a  narrative  was  heard  from  a  native  of  each  of 
the  four  quarters  of  the  globe ;  of  their  views  and  feelings,  of 
their  trials  and  temptations,  &c.  The  result  was  highly  grati- 
fying to  all  present ;  and  I  think  Dr.  Livingston  said,  that  it 
was  generally  admitted  by  those  present,  that  they  had  never 
before  witnessed  so  interesting  a  scene. 


A    BAPTIST    CLEKGY3IAN.  231 


TWO  CLERGYMEN. 

A  MINISTER  was  once  speaking  to  a  brother  clergyman,  of 
his  gratitude  for  a  merciful  deliverance  he  had  just  experienced. 

"  As  I  was  riding  here  to-day,"  said  he,  "  my  horse  stum- 
bled, and  came  very  near  throwing  me  from  a  bridge,  where 
(he  fall  would  have  killed  me ;  but  I  escaped  unhurt." 

"  I  can  tell  you  something  more  than  that,"  said  the  other ; 
"  as  I  rode  here  to-day,  my  horse  did  not  stumble  at  all." 

We  are  too  apt  to  forget  common  mercies. 


A  BAPTIST  CLERGYMAN. 


The  following  incident,  says  the  editor  of  the  Christian 
Secretary,  was  related  to  us  by  a  gentleman  who  was  present ; 
and,  as  we  happen  to  be  acquainted  with  the  persons  alluded 
to,  we  take  the  liberty  to  publish  it.  Several  years  since,  a 
young  man  who  had  just  entered  the  ministry  as  a  Baptist 
preacher,  took  passage  in  the  stage  from  this  city  for  Albany. 
Among  the  passengers  was  the  then  pastor  of  the  Universalist 
soci'^ty  in  this  city.  In  the  course  of  the  day,  a  Congregational 
clergyman  entered  the  stage.  The  parties  were  all  apparently 
strangers  to  each  other.  The  conversation  turned  upon  reli- 
gious subjects,  when  the  Universalist  gave  the  company  to 
understand  that  he  was  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  by  relating 
the  following  circumstance ;  without,  however,  stating  the  par- 
ticular denomination  to  which  he  belonged. 

"  I  preached,  last  Sabbath,"  said  he,  "  from  these  words : 
*  Now,  when  they  saw  the  boldness  of  Peter  and  John,  and 
perceived  that  they  were  unlearned  and  ignorant  men,  they 


232  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

took  knowledge  of  them  that  they  had  been  with  Jesus.'  The 
reason  of  my  preaching  from  this  text,"  continued  he,  "  was 
as  follows : — My  custom  is,  to  write  one  sermon  at  least  every 
week,  and  I  went  into  my  study  for  the  purpose  of  writing 
one ;  but,  after  looking  over  the  Bible,  from  Genesis  to  Reve- 
lation, I  was  unable  to  find  a  text  to  suit  me.  I  then  threw 
myself  upon  the  bed,  and,  in  my  sleep,  dreamed  of  reading 
the  passage  in  Acts,  just  quoted.  My  mind  then  ran  on,  in  a 
train  of  reflections  upon  the  text,  which,  on  awaking,  I  wrote 
down,  as  near  as  I  could  possibly  recollect,  and,  on  reading  it 
over,  I  found  it  to  be  as  good  a  sermon  as  I  had  ever  written." 
The  preacher  here  paused,  apparently  for  the  purpose  of 
seeing  what  effect  his  remarkable  story  had  produced  upon  the 
minds  of  the  company  ;  when  the  young  Baptist  minister  very 
solemnly  replied,  "  I  fear,  Mr.  R.,  it  will  be  found,  in  the  day 
of  judgment,  that  your  sermons  have  been  nothing  but  dreams^ 
after  all."  On  hearing  his  name  mentioned,  Mr.  R.  looked 
sowiewhat  confused,  and  manifested  no  disposition  to  discourse 
upon  religious  subjects  the  rest  of  the  journey. 


REV.  DR.  EMMONS. 


It  was  the  advice  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons,  to  young 
ministers  :  "  Be  short,  in  all  religious  exercises.  Better  leave 
the  people  longing  than  loathing.  No  conversions  after  the 
hour  is  out." 


This  eminent  man  once  said  to  a  candidate  for  settlement : 
"  You  have  struck  twelve  first ;  fools  will  complain  of  you  if 
you  do  not  strike  thirteen  next."  How  many  young  ministers 
unwisely  make  an  effort  to  put  themselves  off  for  more  than 


REV.    DR.    EMMONS.  233 

they  are  woith,  from  a  foolish  desire  to  be  popular !  Such  a 
beginning  is  likely  to  have  a  bad  ending ;  for,  as  the  same  dis- 
criminating man  remarked  on  another  occasion,  "  Every  thing 
that  captivates  will  at  length  disgust ;  therefore,  popularity 
cannot  live." 


A  young  minister  having  preached  for  the  Doctor,  one  day, 
was  anxious  to  get  a  word  of  applause  for  his  labour  of  love. 
The  grave  Doctor,  however,  did  not  introduce  the  subject,  and 
the  young  brother  was  obliged  to  bait  the  hook  for  him. 

"  I  hope,  sir,  I  did  not  weary  your  people  by  the  length  of 
my  sermon,  to-day  ?" 

"  No,  sir,  not  at  all ;  nor  by  the  depth  either." 


The  following  sketch  was  furnished  to  the  Newark  Sentinel, 
by  one  who  evidently  understood  his  subject : — 

It  was  once  my  good  fortune  to  see  the  great  Dr.  Emmons, 
the  father  of  Emmonite  theology,  and  the  man  who  boasted 
that  he  once  "  dandled  Timothy  Dwight  on  his  knee."  When 
I  saw  him,  he  was  ninety-three,  and  he  wore  the  old-fashioned 
cocked  hat  and  small  clothes,  with  huge  knee-buckles.  He 
had  a  broad,  intellectual  countenance,  with  long  white  hair 
falling  over  his  shoulders.  The  boys  followed  him  in  the 
streets,  to  stare  at  him ;  and  when  he  ascended  the  platform, 
in  the  Chatham  Street  Chapel,  during  the  anniversaries,  the 
whole  body  of  clergy  rose  up  to  do  him  reverence.  Very  few 
of  them  had  ever  seen  him  before,  as  he  seldom  left  the  little 
town  of  Franklin,  in  Massachusetts,  where  he  preached  for 
more  than  fifty  years !  At  the  age  of  eighty,  he  gave  up 
preaching,  as  he  said,  "  before  he  fell  into  his  dotage ;"  and, 
during  the  last  fifteen  years  of  his  life,  he  took  part  in  no 

20* 


234  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

public  exercises.  The  late  Dr.  Breckenridge  was  in  the  same 
pulpit  with  him,  during  that  visit  to  New  York,  and  called  on 
him  to  pray.  This  he  declined  ;  he  even  declined  pronouncing 
the  benediction.  He  said  "  he  had  quit  work  for  ever  here." 
But  while  he  was  at  work,  no  one  laboured  harder.  He  stu- 
died twelve  or  fourteen  hours  a  day,  and  seldom  quitted  his 
study  from  morning  till  night.  Once  his  hired  man  came  into 
his  study  to  ask  his  assistance  in  gathering  some  hay,  telling 
him  that  it  would  soon  spoil'.  "  Let  it  spoil,"  the  old  doctor 
replied ;  "  I  cannot  leave  my  work  to  do  yours.''^ 

At  another  time,  an  intemperate  grandson  of  one  of  Dr. 
Emmons's  friends  accosted  him  in  the  presence  of  several  by- 
standers, and  tried  to  make  them  believe  that  he  was  familiarly 
acquainted  with  the  doctor.  But  he  was  not  recognised. 
'*  What !"  said  he,  "do  you  not  know  me,  doctor?  I  have 
held  the  stirrup  for  you  to  mount  your  horse,  at  my  grand 
father's,  many  a  time."  "  You  look  as  if  you  had  never  been 
in  so  good  business  since,"  replied  the  doctor,  looking  at  his 
red  face  very  archly.  A  pompous  young  preacher  once  asked 
him  how  he  liked  his  sermon.  The  doctor,  then  ninety  years 
old,  rose  from  his  chair,  protruded  his  cheeks,  inflated  his 
chest,  raised  his  eyebrows,  and  after  a  significant  puff^  sat 
down  without  saying  a  word.  To  another  young  man,  he  said, 
"  Your  sermon  was  too  much  like  Seekonk  Plain,  long  and 
level."  He  used  to  say  of  Dr.  D  wight,  "When  I  was  at  Yale, 
I  used  to  take  him  up  in  my  arms.  He  was  a  pretty  boy." 
Dr.  Emmons  was  a  Connecticut  man,  and- died  in  Massachu- 
setts, in  1840.  He  was  a  man  of  most  powerful  intellect,  and 
eminent,  but  full  of  the  "  heresies  of  New  England  divinity." 
Perhaps  he  was  the  clearest  writer  on  metaphysical  subjects 
our  country  has  ever  produced.  ^     ^,. 


REV.    THOMAS    BROWX.  235 


REV.  DR.  DWIGHT. 

A  YOUNG  clergyman  once  called  upon  Dr.  Dwight,  and  in- 
quired respecting  the  best  method  of  treating  a  very  difficult 
and  abstruse  point  in  mental  philosophy,  upon  which  he  was 
preparing  a  sermon.  "  I  cannot  give  you  any  information 
upon  the  subject,"  the  doctor  replied  ,*  "  I  am  not  familiar  with 
such  topics.     I  leave  them  for  young  men." 


REV.  DR.  SCUDDER. 


A  FOREIGN  correspondent  of  the  Congregational  Journal 
relates  the  following  incident  of  an  interview  between  two 
Christian  missionaries  in  Asia : — 

The  late  Rev.  E.  Daniel,  English  Baptist  Missionary  at 
Colombo,  was  remarkable  for  his  zeal  and  piety,  but  very 
plain  and  homely  in  his  appearance.  Dr.  Scudder  once  fell  in 
with  him,  and  not  imagining  that  he  was  a  minister  of  the 
gospel,  instantly  began  to  talk  with  him  about  the  salvation  of 
his  soul,  which  was  taken  by  Mr.  D.  with  great  satisfaction 
and  thankfulness.  A  gentleman  hearing  of  it,  remarked,  "  If 
Dr.  S.  had  been  one  minute  later,  Mr.  Daniel  would  have 
begun  with  him." 


REV.  THOMAS  BROWN. 

While  this  gentleman  was  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  at 
Scotch  Plains,  New  Jersey,  a  stranger,  of  respectable  appear- 
ance, was  announced  at  the  parsonage  door.    Mr.  B.  went,  and. 


^*36  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

with  his  cJiaracteristic  blandness,  invited  the  stranger  in ;  and, 
on  learning  that  he  was  a  minister  of  his  own  denomination, 
assured  him  of  a  welcome  to  the  well-known  hospitality  of  the 
old  stone  mansion.  It  was  Saturday  afternoon ;  and  as  the 
stranger  had  no  engagement  for  the  morrow,  Mr.  B.  requested 
him  to  make  himself  at  home  for  the  Lord's-day.  The  invi- 
tation was  readily  and  gratefully  accepted ;  and  matters  being 
thus  far  settled,  the  pastor  sat  down  to  have  a  brotherly  collo- 
quy with  his  stranger  guest.  Mr.  B.  was  remarkably  commu- 
nicative, where  propriety  allowed  it,  and  he  delighted  to  have 
his  friends  so  too.  He  never  wished  to  be  "  all  tongue  and  no 
ear."  But  he  found  his  visitor  to  be  remarkably  taciturn.  He 
broached  a  number  of  different  topics,  doctrinal,  ethical,  sta- 
tistical, domestic,  and  foreign.  But,  on  each  and  all,  the  guest 
was  provokingly  uninformed  and  silent.  He  could  not,  or  he 
would  not,  be  brought  out.  He  was  all  ear,  and  no  tongue. 
The  conclusion  finally  was,  that  he  might  be  a  very  good 
brother,  but  he  did  not  know  much.  That  was  certain ;  and 
so  he  was  pretty  much  left  to  his  own  reflections.  Thus,  Mr. 
B.  judged  from  appearances. 

The  arrangements  for  the  morrow's  services  were  now 
quietly  settled  in  the  pastor's  own  mind.  It  would  not  do  for 
the  stranger  to  preach  in  the  morning,  any  how.  The  congre- 
gation was  usually  large  and  very  intelligent — and  strangers 
might  be  there.  He  might  occupy  the  pulpit  in  the  afternoon, 
for  the  second  service,  after  the  half-hour's  intermission.  All 
this  was  settled ;  and  in  due  time  the  arrangements  were 
kindly  revealed  to  the  stranger,  who  modestly  consented  to 
help  his  brother  as  best  he  could,  if  his  help  was  desired. 

The  next  morning  came ;  and  Mr.  B.  preached,  no  doubt,  as 
usual,  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  his  people.  He  had  to 
preach  again  at  a  station  about  four  miles  distant,  at  five 
o'clock,  which  he  intended  to  do ;  and  the  stranger  was  an- 
nounced for  the  pulpit  in  the  afternoon,  after  the  usual  inter- 


REV.    DR.    TAYLOR.  237 

mission.  There  he  was,  accordingly ;  and  the  pastor  behind 
him,  with  no  little  anxiety  respecting  the  issue.  The  man 
nrayed.  Mr.  B.  was  struck — was  somehow  affected.  Cer- 
tainly, thought  he,  the  man  can  pray^  if  he  cannot  preach. 
And  he  did  preach.  The  most  precious  truths  of  the  gospel 
were  brought  out  with  a  rich  unction,  and  clothed  with  lan- 
guage clear  and  polished,  and  in  a  manner  which  chained  the 
attention  and  told  on  the  hearts  of  the  people.  The  pastor 
was  astonished,  confounded,  mortified,  delighted.  He  himself, 
he  thought,  could  do  nothing  like  it.  The  stranger  was  now 
earnestly  pressed  to  preach  the  five  o'clock  sermon  also,  to 
which  he  modestly  consented.  "And  then,"  said  B.,  with  his 
loud,  hearty  laugh  of  irrepressible  delight,  "  he  went  far  ahead 
of  his  first  sermon !  I  never  was  more  astonished  in  all  my 
life." 

He  was  taught  not  to  '•'■judge  according  to  the  outward* 
appear  ance^ 


REV.  DR.  TAYLOR 


A  BEAUTIFUL  anccdotc  is  told,  illustrative  of  the  Christian 
spirit  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Nathaniel  W.  Taylor.  He  had  long 
been  engaged  in  a  very  sharp  controversy  with  Dr.  Tyler,  of 
East  Windsor,  and  the  late  excellent  Dr.  Nettleton.  He  was 
one  day  told  that  Dr.  Nettleton  was  very  ill,  and  likely  to  die. 
He  set  off  immediately  for  Dr.  Tyler's  house,  went  directly  up 
to  the  room  of  Dr.  N.,  without  announcing  his  name,  and  as 
soon  as  he  entered  the  sick-room,  he  threw  his  arms  about  the 
neck  of  his  dying  brother,  and  wept  for  a  long  time  without 
saying  a  word.  A  most  admirable  exemplification  of  Christian 
feeling ! 


238  ,     THK    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


REV.  LEMUEL  HAYNES. 


It  is  related  in  the  biography  of  Rev.  Lemuel  Haynes,  the 
coloured  preacher,  that  some  of  his  students  having  been  slan- 
dered for  their  religious  activity  and  zeal,  went  to  him  with 
their  complaints,  expecting  his  sympathy  and  protection. 
After  a  pause,  Mr.  Haynes  observed,  "  I  knew  all  this  before." 
"  Why,  then,"  said  one,  "  did  you  not  inform  us  ?"  "  Be- 
cause,"  said  he,  "  it  was  not  worth  communicating ;  and  I  now 
tell  you  plainly,  once  for  all,  my  young  friends,  it  is  best  to 
let  the  devil  carry  his  own  mail,  and  bear  his  own  expenses." 

There  is  much  wisdom  in  this  remark,  and  it  is  capable  of  a 
variety  of  applications.  When  assaults  are  made  upon  any 
one,  in  points  where  he  is  sustained  by  a  consciousness  of 
I'ight,  in  a  vast  majority  of  cases  silence  is  the  most  effective 
defence.  For,  to  formally  refute  slander,  he  must  first  extend 
the  publication  of  it ;  that  is,  must  sustain  the  expense  of  car- 
rying the  devil's  mail,  and  convey  to  many  the  information 
which  they  would  not  otherwise  have  had,  that  he  has  been 
subjected  to  imputations  of  wrong.  And  as  "  a  lie  will  travel 
from  Maine  to  Georgia,  while  truth  is  putting  on  its  boots," 
there  is  little  encouragement  to  run  down  a  falsehood  by  an 
earnest  refutation.  And  yet,  with  rare  exceptions,  it  is  not 
needful ;  a  little  faith  and  patience  will  serve  one  quite  as  well 
as  laboured  vindications.  Habitual  integrity  is  the  best  de- 
fence. Let  a  foul  breath  be  breathed  upon  a  diamond,  and  it 
will  soon  regain  its  wonted  lustre. 

Mr.  Haynes  once  practised  on  this  principle  as  follows  : — 
An  unprincipled  man  overtook  him  in  the  road,  and  said,  "  Mr. 
Haynes,  have  you  heard  the  scandalous  reports  that  are  abroad 
about  you  ?"  He  calmly  replied,  "  I  have  heard  nothing." 
The  man  proceeded,  in  profane  and  abusive  language,  to  give 
the  details,  and  allege  that  they  were  true;  and   that   they 


REV.    LEMLEL    HAYNES.  239 

would  ruin  his  character.  Mr.  Haynes  walked  on  in  silence 
till  he  reached  his  own  house,  when  he  turned  to  the  slanderer 

and  said,  "Well,  Mr. ,  you  see  what  disgrace  my  conduct 

has  brought  upon  me,  according  to  your  own  account.  I  want 
)'ou  to  take  warning  from  me,  to  forsake  your  evil  course,  and 
save  your  character  from  disgrace."  They  parted.  But  the 
next  day,  the  man  came  with  an  humble  acknowledgment, 
asking  forgiveness.  Thus  did  assaults  give  new  lustre  to  his 
character. 

"  Assailed  by  scandal  and  the  tongue  of  strife, 
His  only  answer  was  a  blameless  life ; 
And  he  that  forged,  and  he  that  threw  the  dart, 
Had  each  a  brother's  interest  in  his  heart." 


This  excellent  man,  happening  one  day  to  pass  by  the  open 
door  of  a  room  where  his  daughters  and  some  young  friends 
were  assembled,  thought,  from  what  he  overheard,  that  they 
were  were  making  too  free  with  the  character  of  their  neigh- 
bours ;  and  after  their  visitors  had  departed,  he  gave  his  child- 
ren a  lecture  on  the  sinfulness  of  scandal.  They  answered, 
"  But,  father,  what  shall  we  talk  about  ?  We  must  talk  of 
something  !"  "  If  you  can  do  nothing  else,"  replied  he,  "  get 
a  pumpkin  and  roll  it  about ;  that  will  at  least  be  innocent 
diversion." 

A  short  time  afterwards,  an  association  of  ministers  met  at 
his  house,  and  during  the  evening  some  discussions,  on  points 
of  doctrine,  were  earnest,  and  their  voices  were  so  loud  as  to 
indicate  the  danger  of  losing  the  Christian  temper ;  when  his 
eldest  daughter,  overhearing  them,  procured  a  pumpkin,  and 
entering  the  room,  gave  it  to  her  father,  and  said,  "  There, 
father,  roll  it  about,  roll  it  about."  Mr.  Haynes  was  obliged 
to  explain  to  his  brethren ;  and  good  humour  was  instantly 
restored. 


J240  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

The  following  characteristic  anecdote  of  this  shrewd  de- 
fender of  the  truth,  is  related  by  a  correspondent  of  the  New 
York  Observer : — 

Mr.  Haynes  was  employed  about  two  years,  as  a  stated 
supply  to  the  Congregational  church  in  Manchester.  In  this 
town  was  a  Universalist  society,  and,  as  in  most  other  cases, 
its  adherents  were  fond  of  discussing  their  sentiments  with 
other  denominations.  One  of  these  took  frequent  occasion  to 
dispute  with  Mr.  Haynes,  and  though  he  generally  came  off 
ssecond  best,  he  seemed  determined  to  renew  the  controversy 
on  every  convenient  occasion. 

At  the  close  of  one  of  these  interviews,  apparently  under 
the  full  conviction  of  his  own  inferiority,  he  said,  "  Mr.  Haynes, 
you  are  a  learned  man,  and  I  cannot  argue  with  you ;  but  I 
expect  one  of  our  ministers  here  before  long,  and  I  intend  to 
bring  him  to  see  you ;  he  will  be  able  to  defend  our  doctrine." 
Mr.  Haynes  replied  in  his  usual  good-natured  way,  "  Oh,  well, 
bring  him  along ;  I  shall  be  pleased  to  talk  with  him." 

Some  weeks  aflerwards,  the  Universalist  minister  arrived  ; 
and  the  parishioner  embraced  the  first  leisure  hour  to  take  him 
up  to  the  village  to  see  Mr.  Haynes.  On  their  way,  they  were 
met  by  one  of  the  brethren  of  their  own  faith,  who,  after 
learning  whither  they  were  bound,  advised  them  to  turn  back  ; 
"  for,"  said  he,  "Ae  is  an  old  fox,  and  you  can't  get  to  the" 
windward  of  him."  They,  however,  persisted  in  their  purpose, 
and  soon  arrived  at  the  parsonage. 

Mr.  Haynes  was  called  from  his  study  to  receive  the  visitors, 
without  knowing  or  receiving  the  least  intimation  who  they 
were.  As  he  entered  the  room,  the  parishioner,  after  ex- 
changing compliments,  said,  "  Mr.  Haynes,  this  is  Mr.  X , 

my  minister,  whom  I  promised  to  bring  to  see  you."  "  How 
d'  do,  how  d'  do?"  said  Mr.  Haynes,  taking  the  minister  fami- 
liarly  by  the   hand.     "  Well,  you   are  the  man,  then,  who 


REV.    DR.    >ETTLETO>r.  241 

preaches  that  men  may  swear,  and  lie,  and  get  drunk,  and 
commit  adultery,  and  all  other  abominations,  and  yet  go  to 
heaven,  after  all ;  ain't  you  ?"  "  No,  no,"  said  the  Universal- 
ist  minister ;  "  I  don't  preach  any  such  thing."  "  Well,"  said 
Father  Haynes,  "  you  believe  so  ;  don't  you  ?" 

This  was  a'  blow  that  completely  annihilated  all  desire  for 
theological  discussion,  and  well  nigh  took  away  the  power  of 
utterance  from  both  minister  and  layman.  After  a  few  re- 
marks on  the  state  of  the  weather,  and  the  pleasant  situation 
of  the  village,  the  minister  said  to  his  attendant,  "  Is  it  not 
time  for  us  to  be  going?"  and  both  withdrew,  apparently  satis- 
fied to  dispense  with  all  further  intercourse. 


REV.  DR.  NETTLETON. 


Dr.  N.  had  great  skill  in  the  management  of  difficulties 
which  connected  themselves  with  his  engagements.  He  was 
led  to  visit  a  town  where  the  Congregational  church  was 
nearly  extinct,  through  the  prevalence  of  contention.  The 
meeting-house  was  in  the  south-east  part  of  the  town.  In  the 
centre  was  a  large  brick  school-house,  around  which  were 
several  wealthy  families,  and  a  few  professors  of  religion. 
There  was  a  meeting-house  connected  with  another  denomina- 
tion, in  the  north-west  corner.  The  revival  commenced  in  the 
centre.  Erroneous  views  of  religion  prevailed.  Soon  several 
ministers  appeared  in  his  meetings,  seeming  to  claim  the  field 
as  their  own.  They  made  appointments  for  themselves.  The 
doctor  kept  the  minds  of  the  people  to  'the  great  subject.  He 
publicly  told  the  ministers  that  he  was  thankful  for  help,  and 
would  return  their  kindness,  and  give  them  as  many  sermons 
as  they  preached  for  him.  This  they  did  not  e.xpect.  He 
made  no  reference  to  them  in  his  preaching.     There  was  u. 

21 


242  THE    AMERICAN    CLEKGY. 

large  public-house,  directly  opposite  their  meeting-house,  occu- 
pied by  an  excellent  family.  This  was  opened  to  him,  and  lie 
preached  there  regularly  for  many  weeks.  The  consequence 
was,  that  he  occupied  the  whole  ground.  More  than  a  hun- 
dred persons  were  brought  into  the  church  he  supplied,  which 
has  enjoyed  a  stated  ministry  ever  since. 


The  wisdom  displayed  by  this  excellent  Revivalist,  in  the 
midst  of  persecution,  was  very  great.  He  was  once  labouring 
in  a  village  in  Connecticut,  where  were  strong  indications  of 
the  beginning  of  a  good  state  of  things.  Christians  were 
engaged  in  powerful  labour,  and  a  spirit  of  violent  opposition 
manifested  itself  among  the  ungodly.  The  pastor  of  the 
church  was  called  to  a  distant  part  of  the  parish  to  officiate  at 
a  wedding,  and  Dr.  N.  accompanied  him.  They  rode  together, 
and  when  they  arrived  at  the  house,  the  pastor  left  his  surtout- 
coat  hanging  over  the  back  of  his  chaise.  Nothing  particular 
occurred  during  the  ceremony,  but  when  they  were  preparing 
to  return  home,  it  was  discovered  that  the  harness  was  cut  in 
several  places.  This,  after  a  time,  was  repaired,  and  they 
arrived*-at  the  pastor's  house  without  accident.  When  he  took 
out  his  horse  to  put  him  into  the  stable,  he  found  that  the  hair 
from  the  mane  and  tail  of  the  animal  had  been  shaved  closely 
off.  He  brought  his  surtout  into  the  study,  which  was  then 
seen  to  have  been  torn  from  top  to  bottom  into  ribands.  The 
good  pastor  was  greatly  excited,  and  declared  that  he  would 
find  out  the  perpetrators  of  the  outrage,  and  prosecute  them  to 
the  utmost  extremity  of  the  law.  When  he  had  time  to  cool, 
Dr.  Nettleton  said  to  him,  "  Brother,  try  on  the  surtout ;  it 
may  not  be  injured  so  much  as  you  suppose."  He  did  so , 
and  so  grotesque  was  his  appearance,  that  both  burst  into  a 
hearty  laugh.     Dr.  N.  saw  that  the  time  was  now  come  to 


DR.    rs'ETTLETO]V.  243 

make  an  impression  upon  him  ;  and  said,  "  Brother ,  it  is 

evident  that  the  Spirit  of  God  is  at  work  with  this  people,  and 
this  is  a  device  of  the  adversary  of  souls  to  turn  off  their 
attention  from  the  subject  of  religion.  You  may,  I  doubt  not, 
find  out  the  authors  of  this  mischief,  and  punish  them ;  but,  in 
doing  it,  you  will  raise  a  hubbub — there  will  be  an  end  of  the 
revival,  and  souls  will  be  lost  for  ever.  Now,  my  advice  to 
you  is  this :  keep  your  horse  in  the  stable ;  feed  him  yourself; 
do  not  take  him  out,  even  to  water.  Lay  by  your  surtout  in 
the  bottom  of  your  trunk,  and  do  not  mention  these  circum- 
stances, even  to  your  wife.  The  wrong-doers  will  not  dare  to 
mention  their  mischief;  and  if  we  are  silent,  it  will  not  be 
known,  and  they  will  lose  their  labour.  The  parish  will  con- 
tinue in  quietness,  and  we  shall  go  on  in  our  work  without 
molestation.  We  shall  thus  defeat  the  adversary  of  souls,  and 
gain  a  blessed  victory  for  the  Redeemer."  The  pastor  took 
his  advice ;  no  one  ever  heard  of  the  occurrence  from  that 
time ;  and  God  blessed  the  church  with  a  glorious  outpouring 
of  his  Spirit.  Such  was  the  good  doctor's  method  of  dealing 
with  persecutors. 


'Dr.  Nettleton  was  most  sensitively  careful  to  sustain  the  in- 
fluence of  his  brethren.  He  would  not,  when  he  knew  there 
was  an  evident  deficiency,  do  any  thing  that  might  tend,  in  the 
least  degree,  to  disparage  them  in  the  estimation  of  their  peo- 
ple. There  was  one  instance  in  which  he  showed  his  delicacy 
of  feeling  and  address  in  a  most  Christian  rrianner.  A  cler- 
gyman who  lived  not  far  from  the  place  where  Dr.  N.  resided, 
bore  the  reputation  of  an  indolent  and  inefficient  pastor,  and 
had  in  consequence  caused  considerable  uneasiness  amongst 
his  people.  Some  of  the  more  faithful  part  of  the  church,  who 
deplored  the  low  state  of  religion  and  growing  laxity  of  morals 
among  the  youth  of  the  congregation,  went  to  Dr.  N.  and 


244  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

desired  him  to  come  and  preach  to  them.  To  this  he  would 
by  no  means  consent,  without  an  express  invitation  from  the 
pastor,  and  of  that  he  had  little  hope.  But  there  happened  to 
be  a  desert  spot  on  the  borders  of  the  town,  where  religious 
meetings  were  seldom  held,  and  where  the  influence  of  the 
pastor  did  not  particularly  extend.  When  he  was  made 
acquainted  with  the  fact,  he  said  that  he  had  no  objection  to 
go  there  and  hold  a  few  evening  meetings  with  them.  He 
went,  and,  without  exciting  observation,  held  several  religious 
meetings.  In  a  short  time,  a  number  of  the  youth  were  under 
deep  conviction  for  sin.  As  soon  as  he  perceived  the  joyful 
appearance,  he  requested  all  who  were  under  serious  impres- 
sions to  meet  with  him  the  next  day,  informing  them  that  he 
had  something  of  an  important  nature,  which  he  wished  to 
communicate.  When  they  had  all  met,  he  advised  the  young 
ladies  to  go  that  same  evening  to  their  pastor,  and  ask  his 
counsel  respecting  the  present  state  of  their  minds ;  and  the 
young  men  he  advised  to  go  the  evening  following,  for  the 
same  purpose.  They  all  did  as  he  had  prudently  directed 
them ;  and  the  effect  was  so  powerfully  electric,  that  the  sloth- 
ful pastor  rose  up  at  once,  went  to  work  with  all  his  might, 
preached  and  laboured  with  assiduous  energy,  and  was  the 
favoured  agent  in  reaping  a  glorious  harvest  of  souls.  As 
soon  as  the  pastor  got  thus  fairly  to  work.  Dr.  N.  retired.  The 
pastor  ever  remained  a  faithful  and  useful  man. 


AGED  CLERGYMEN. 

A  YOUNG  "  divine"  said  to  an  old  preacher : — "  How  does  it 
happen  that  you  write  but  one  sermon  a  week?  I  preach 
three  new  sermons  every  Sabbath.  I  could  write  a  sermon 
every  day  in  the  week,  and  make  nothing  of  it." 


TWO    CLERGYMEN.  245 

"  No  doubt ;  precisely  nothing,^'*  was  the  reply :  "  but  that 
is  exactly  what  I  wish  to  avoid.  I  labour  to  make  something 
of  my  sermons." 


The  following  advice  was  once  given  from  an  aged  minister 
to  a  young  one  : — 

With  respect  to  your  conduct  in  the  house  of  worship,  I  have 
a  word  or  two  to  say  to  you.  If  you  happen  to  make  a  blun- 
der in  prayer  or  preaching,  don't  stop  to  rectify  it,  but  go 
boldly  on ;  for,  'tis  ten  to  one,  if  a  single  person  in  the  whole 
church  be  listening  to  a  word  you  say :  but,  if  you  stop  and 
go  back  to  the  word,  and  begin  to  hum  and  haw,  the  hearers 
will  immediately  prick  up  their  ears,  and  whisper  to  one 
another,  "  Ah !  the  minister's  out,  the  minister's  out ;"  and 
thus  you'll  be  exposed  to  ridicule. 


TWO  CLERGYMEN. 


While  we  must  lament  the  existence  of  differences  of 
opinion  tending  to  destroy  intercourse  and  fellowship  among 
brethren,  it  becomes  us  to  respect  the  rights  of  conscience, 
wherever  they  exist.  There  is  a  lesson  conveyed  in  the  fol- 
lowing fact,  although  it  is  adapted  to  create  a  smile : — 

An  Episcopal  clergyman  resided  in  the  immediate  neigh- 
bourhood of  a  reverend  pastor  of  a  Baptist  church.  Their 
intercourse  was  kind,  and  they  occasionally  occupied  each 
other's  desk.  The  Baptist  asked  his  Episcopal  brother  to 
address  his  people,  one  Loi'd's-day  morning,  to  which  he 
acceded.  As  they  sat  at  dinner,  after  the  sermon,  the  Baptist 
minister  was   evidently  unhappy ;    and   the   Episcopalian  at 

21* 


246  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

length  elicited  the  fact,  that  this  Sabbath  was  the  time  when 
the  Baptists  celebrated  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  that  his  brother 
was  grieving  that  he  could  not  invite  him  to  commune  with 
them.  "Oh,"  said  his  visitor,  "don't  let  that  distress  you; 
perhaps  you  are  not  aware  that,  bemg  an  Episcopalian,  I  do 
not  consider  you  ordained,  and  therefore  could  not  receive  the 
Lord's  Supper  at  your  hands."  Each  was  amused,  and  each 
respected  the  conscience  of  his  friend. 


REV.  DR.  FURMAN. 


The  late  Rev.  Dr.  Furman,  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  was  once 
present  in  a  small  company  of  brethren  who  had  assembled  to 
dine  with  a  common  friend,  when  the  usual  style  by  which 
they  addressed  each  other  was  the  affectionate  appellation  of 
"  brother."  Those  present  were  very  exact  in  using  this  mode 
of  address.  While  their  conversation  was  progressing,  and 
they  were  freely  "  brothering"  each  other,  there  came  in  an 
aged  coloured  woman,  well  known  for  her  piety  and  good 
character.  The  brethren  present  saluted  her,  one  in  this  man- 
ner and  another  in  that ;  as,  "  Well,  old  woman  ;"  "  How  do, 
Clarinda?"  and  so  on.  When  she  came  to  Dr.  F.,  he  leaned 
forward,  extended  to  her  his  hand,  and  said,  "How  do  you  do, 
sister  Clarinda?"  He  probably  designed  this  as  a  gentle  reproof 
to  those  present,  who  did  not  seem  to  recognize  the  true  equa- 
lity in  which  all  stand  who  belong  to  the  family  of  Christ. 


REV.    DR.    POND.  247 


REV.  DR.  POND. 


There  is  something  so  truly  noble  in  the  following  hand- 
some apology,  from  the  pen  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pond,  that  we 
cannot  forbear  to  record  it  on  our  pages.  Would  that  all  of 
us  were  found  to  breathe  the  same  spirit ! 

"  I  am  happy  in  the  opportunity  thus  afforded  me,  of  paying 
what  I  conceive  to  be  a  merited  tribute  to  the  high  missionary 
character  of  Dr.  Judson.  It  will  be  recollected  by  many  who 
read  this  article,  that  soon  after  his  change  of  sentiments,  and 
the  publication  of  his  sermon  on  the  subject  of  baptism,  I  pub- 
lished a  reply  to  the  sermon ;  in  the  introduction  to  which, 
some  things  were  said,  impeaching  the  motives  of  Dr.  J.,  and 
implicating  to  some  extent  his  Christian  character.  In  the 
statements  there  made,  I  had  the  concurrence  of  the  then  mem- 
bers of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign 
Missions,  and  of  most  of  the  Congregational  ministers  and 
Christians  of  that  day.  But,  in  view  of  the  course  since  pur* 
sued  by  Dr.  J.,  his  labours  and  sufferings,  his  zeal,  his  con- 
stancy,  his  well-directed  and  successful  efforts  in  the  best  of 
causes,  and  especially  after  the  explanations  he  has  made  of 
some  things  which,  at  the  time  of  his  change,  were  regarded 
by  many  as  mysterious,  I  think  no  one  can  question  the  purity 
of  his  motives,  or  the  distinguished  excellence  and  devotedness 
of  his  Christian  character.  From  the  later  editions  of  my 
work  on  Baptism,  I  have  expunged  every  thing  which  could 
be  interpreted  as  disreputable  to  Dr.  J.  I  have  long  followed 
him,  in  what  I  have  known  of  his  studies  and  labours,  with 
deep  interest,  and  regard  him  as  entitled  to  stand  among  the 
foremost  of  living  missionaries." 


248  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


REV.  DRS.  COOPER  AND  CHAUNCEY. 

Dr.  Cooper,  who  was  a  man  of  accomplished  manners,  and 
fond  of  society,  was  able,  by  the  aid  of  his  fine  talents,  to  dis- 
pense with  some  of  the  severe  study  that  others  engaged  in. 
This,  however,  did  not  escape  the  envy  and  malice  of  the 
world ,-  and  it  was  said,  with  a  kind  of  petulant  and  absurd 
exaggeration,  that  he  used  to  walk  to  the  South  End  on  Satur- 
day, and,  if  he  saw  a  man  riding  into  town  in  a  black  coat, 
would  stop  and  ask  him  to  preach  the  next  day. 

Dr.  Chauncey  was  a  close  student,  very  absent  and  irrita- 
ble. On  these  traits  in  the  character  of  the  clergyman,  a  ser- 
vant of  Dr.  Chauncey  laid  a  scheme  to  obtain  a  particular 
object  from  his  master.  Scipio  went  into  his  master's  study, 
one  morning,  to  receive  some  directions,  which  the  doctor  hav- 
ing given,  resumed  his  writing ;  but  the  servant  still  remained. 
The  master,  looking  up  a  few  minutes  afterward,  and  suppos- 
ing he  had  just  come  in,  said,  "Scipio,  what  do  you  want?" 
"  I  want  a  new  coat,  massa."  "  Well,  go  to  Mrs.  C,  and  tell 
her  to  give  you  one  of  my  old  coats  ;"  and  was  again  absorbed 
in  study.  The  servant  remained  fixed.  After  a  while,  the 
doctor,  turning  his  eyes  that  way,  saw  him  again,  as  if 
for  the  first  time,  and  said,  "  What  do  you  want,  Scipio  ?" 
"  I  want  a  new  coat,  massa."  "  Well,  go  to  my  wife,  and 
ask  her  to  give  you  one  of  my  old  coats ;"  and  fell  to  writing 
once  more.  Scipio  remained  in  the  same  posture.  After  a 
few  minutes,  the  doctor  looked  toward  him  and  repeated  the 
former  question,  "Scipio,  what  do  you  want?"  "I  want  a 
new  coat,  massa."  It  now  flashed  over  the  doctor's  mind,  that 
there  was  something  of  repetition  in  this  dialogue.  "Why, 
have  I  not  told  you  before  to  ask  Mrs.  Chauncey  to  give  you 
a  coat?  Get  away."  "Yes,  massa  ;  but  I  no  want  a  black 
coat."     "  Not  want  a  black  coat !     And  why  not  ?"     "  Why, 


TWO    MINISTERS.  249 

massa,  I  'fraid  to  tell  you ;  but  I  don't  want  a  black  coat." 
"  What's  the  reason  you  don't  want  a  black  coat?  Tell  me, 
directly."  "  Oh,  massa !  I  don't  want  a  black  coat ;  but  I 
'fraid  to  tell  the  reason,  you  so  passionate."  "  You  rascal,  will 
you  tell  me  the  reason?"  "  Oh,  massa !  I'm  sure  you  be  angry." 
"  If  I  had  my  cane,  you  villain,  I'd  break  your  bones.  Will 
you  tell  me  what  you  mean  ?"  "  I  'fraid  to  tell  you,  massa  ;  I 
know  you  be  angry."  The  doctor's  impatience  was  now 
highly  irritated.  Scipio  perceiving,  by  his  glance  at  the  tongs, 
that  he  might  find  a  substitute  for  the  cane,  and  that  he  was 
sufficiently  excited,  said,  "Well,  massa,  you  make  me  tell,  but 
I  know  you  be  angry ;  /  ''fraid^  massa,  if  I  wear  another 
black  coat.  Dr.  Cooper  ask  me  to  go  preach  far  him  /"  This 
unexpected  termination  realized  the  negro's  calculation.  His 
irritated  master  burst  into  a  laugh.  "  Go,  you  rascal,  get  my 
hat  and  cane,  and  tell  Mrs.  Chauncey  she  may  give  you  a  coat 
of  any  colour ;  a  red  one,  if  you  choose."  Away  went  the 
negro  to  his  mistress,  and  the  doctor  to  tell  the  story  to  his 
friend,  Dr.  Cooper, 


TWO  MINISTERS. 


The  following  fact,  from  the  pen  of  a  writer  in  the  New- 
buryport  Herald,  contains  an  important  truth,  which  our  edu- 
cated ministers  should  well  understand  : — 
•  I  recollect  listening,  when  a  boy,  to  a  conversation  between 
two  Baptist  clergymen;  the  one  an  uneducated,  but  valuable 
extemporaneous  speaker  ;  the  other  an  educated  man,  and  a 
writer  of  beautiful,  clear,  and  logical  sermons,  but  notorious 
for  the  hesitancy  which  he  manifested  whenever  he  attempted 
to  preach  "  without  notes."  "  How  is  it,  brother  L.,"  said  the 
latter,  "  that  you,  without  education,  are  able  to  get  up,  at  a 


250  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

moment's  warning,  and  speak  so  well,  while  I  just  as  certainly 
fail  as  I  attempt  it  1"  "  Well,  brother  S.,  I'll  tell  you.  You're 
just  like  a  rich  farmer,  who  goes  into  his  tool-house  to  get  a 
hoe,  and  finds  so  many  there  that  it  takes  him  half  an  hour  to 
pick  out  the  best ;  and,  as  likely  as  not,  after  all,  goes  off  in 
a  hurry  with  a  poor  one ;  while  I'm  just  like  one  of  his  men 
who  hires  out  by  the  day,  and  comes  in  the  morning  to  the 
corn-field,  all  ready  for  work,  with  his  old  hoe  on  his  shoulder.'^'* 
The  thoroughly  educated  man  very  often  fails  as  an  extempo- 
raneous speaker,  from  the  mere  excess  of  thought  and  good 
taste ;  while  a  man  without  education,  and  sometimes  with 
scarcely  brains  enough  to  furnish  the  head  of  a  clever  parrot, 
"  goes  off"  in  a  steady  stream  of  words,  as  if  he  were  a  rain- 
spout  in  a  thunder-storm.  "  Many  a  full  barrel  of  cider," 
once  said  a  witty  friend  of  mine,  "  runs  slower  than  a  nearly 
empty  one,  which  runs  all  the  faster  when  so  nearly  out  that 
it  has  to  be  propped  up  behind." 


REV.  DR.  STAUGHTON. 


One  Saturday  afternoon,  as  Dr.  Staughton  was  preparing 
for  the  pulpit  services  of  the  following  day,  a  stranger  called 
at  his  study,  and  introduced  himself  as  "  the  Rev.  Mr.  John- 
son." He  had  no  credentials,  except  a  copy  of  the  Minutes 
of  an  Association,  in  which  his  name  was  given  in  such  a  con- 
nection as  to  satisfy  the  Doctor,  that  in  "his  own  country"  he 
was  "  not  without  honor."  In  the  course  of  conversation  it 
became  apparent  that  Mr.  J.  would  be  ivilling,  if  invited,  to 
preach  at  least  a  part  of  the  day,  even  in  Sansom  street.  The 
Doctor  did  not  feel  very  well,  and  was  desirous  to  preserve  his 
strength,  as  far  as  possible,  for  his  evening  lectuie,  which,  as 
many  remember,  was  uniformly  attended  by  admiring  crowds. 


REV.    DR.    STAUGHTON.  251 

He  therefore  requested  the  "  strange  brother"  to  take  the  morn- 
ing service,  and  received  the  prompt  assurance  that  his  wish 
should  be  gratified.  Tradition  has  preserved  no  account  of 
that  "morning  service,"  except  the  fact  that  the  preacher  was 
heard.  His  voice  filled  not  only  that  spacious  house,  but  a 
circle  of  much  larger  radius.  As  the  Doctor  was  passing  out, 
one  of  the  deacons  asked  him  what  he  thoucrht  of  the  stranger. 
"  Oh,  he  is  sou7id,  he  is  very  sound^'^  was  the  significant  reply. 
On  Monday  morning,  Mr.  J.  requested  the  Doctor  to  give 
him  a  letter  of  introduction  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Healy,  of  Balti- 
more. The  good  man  was  too  kind  to  refuse  altogether,  and 
too  conscientious  to  recommend  a  person  of  whom  he  knew 
so  little.     He  therefore  gave  the  applicant  the  following  letter : 

« 

Philadelphia, , , 


Dear  Brother  Healy. — The  bearer,  who  says  his  name  is 
Johnson,  and  says  also  that  he  is  a  Baptist  preacher,  desires 
me  to  introduce  him  to  your  acquaintance.  He  cried  aloud 
and  spared  not  in  my  pulpit  yesterday,  and  if  you  should  find 
it  convenient  to  let  him  preach  for  you,  he  will  lift  up  his  voice 
among  you.  Ever  aflTectionately, 

W.  Staughton. 


Dr.  Staughton  cultivated  a  due  regard  to  ministerial  etiquette  ,• 
and  yet  it  was  always  so  exhibited  as  to  show  that  it  was  a 
spontaneous  effusion  of  religious  affection.  Rather  than  wound 
the  feelings,  or  disregard  the  official  dignity  of  the  plainest 
minister  of  the  gospel,  he  would  violate  the  fastidious  taste  of 
a  whole  church  and  congregation.  Men  of  the  most  ordinary 
talents  and  acquirements,  but  honoured  by  their  respective 
churches,  he  admitted  to  his  pulpit  as  fully  equal  to  himself, 
and  worthy  of  all  fellowship  and  esteem. 

In  a  position  like  that  of  Sansom  Street,  there  would  almost 
necessarily  be  a  number  of  supernumerary  ministers.     By  this 


252  THE    AMERICAN    CLEHGY. 

we  mean  ministers  who  have  no  pastorships.  One  is  a  teach- 
er— another  an  editor — a  third  something  else.  All  preach- 
ing as  often  as  opportunity  afforded,  hut  none  supported  by,  and 
therefore  not  devoted  to  the  ministry.  Among  those  at  the 
time  of  which  we  now  speak,  there  was  one  in  Sansom  Street 
church,  known  as  Father  Strawbridge.  This  was  a  very 
worthy  old  gentleman,  and  a  very  acceptable  preacher;  but  he 
was  never  willing  to  occupy  the  Doctor's  pulpit,  even  in  the 
greatest  emergency,  for  fear  he  might  not  meet  the  expecta- 
tions of  the  audience,  and  thus,  contrary  to  his  best  wishes,  in 
jure  the  cause  he  designed  to  promote. 

Here  is  the  way  in  which  the  Doctor  managed  Father  Straw- 
bridge  :  One  Sunday,  when  the  Doctor  had  to  preach  four  ser- 
mons, he  determined  to  apply  to  the  old  gentleman  to  supply  his 
pulpit  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  audience  was  smallest,  and 
composed  chiefly  of  religious  persons.  So  he  went  to  him,  and 
said :  "  Brother  Strawbridge,  can  you  do  me  the  favour  to 
preach  this  afternoon  to  some  coloured  people  for  me  ?  If  you 
can,  you  will  very  much  oblige  me,  as  my  duties  are  very  hard 
to-day,  and  I  am  quite  indisposed."  "With  a  great  deal  of 
pleasure.  Doctor,"  replied  the  venerable  old  man ;  "  you  know  I 
am  always  willing  to  render  you  any  service  in  my  power." 
"  Very  well,"  rejoined  the  Doctor  ;  "  I  shall  then  rely  on  you  ; 
and  you  will  find  the  place  and  the  hearers  in  the  following  man- 
ner: Just  pass  through  the  vestry  of  Sansom  Street  church, 
ascend  the  flight  of  stairs  to  the  right — go  into  the  pulpit — and 
you  will  see  some  coloured  people  in  the  gallery  on  your  right 
liand.  I  wish  you  to  preach  to  them  one  of  your  plain,  affec- 
tionate, gospel  sermons,  telling  them  of  Jesus  Christ  and  his 
great  salvation." 

The  old  gentleman  complied  with  the  request.  It  is  not  ne- 
cessary to  state  that  the  white  people  who  sat  below  all  heard 
it,  and  were  probably  as  much  edified  as  if  the  sermon  had  been 
preached  exclusively  to  themselves. 


EEV.    DR.    PAY80N.  253 


REV.  DR.  PAYSON. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Payson  being  once  asked  what  message  he 
would  send  to  the  young  men  who  were  studying  for  the  min- 
istry, in  one  of  the  colleges,  thus  addressed  them : — "What  if 
God  should  place  in  your  hand  a  diamond,  and  tell  you  to 
inscribe  on  it  a  sentence  which  should  be  read  at  the  last  day, 
and  shown  there  as  an  index  of  your  thoughts  and  feelings ! 
What  care,  what  caution,  would  you  exercise  in  the  selection ! 
Now,  this  is  what  God  has  done :  he  has  placed  before  you 
immortal  minds,  more  imperishable  than  the  diamond,  on 
which  you  are  about  to  inscribe,  every  day,  and  every  hour, 
by  your  instructions,  by  your  spirit,  or  by  your  example, 
something  which  will  remain,  and  be  exhibited  for  or  against 
you,  at  the  judgment-day." 


Dr.  Payson  seems  to  have  touched  the  right  string,  when, 
writing  to  a  young  clergyman,  he  says  : — "  Some  time  since, 
I  took  up  a  little  work,  purporting  to  be  the  lives  of  sundry 
characters,  as  related  by  themselves.  Two  of  those  charac- 
ters agreed  in  saying  that  they  were  never  happy  until  they 
had  ceased  striving  to  be  great  men.  This  remark  struck  me, 
as  you  know  the  most  simple  remarks  will  strike  us,  when 
heaven  pleases.  It  occurred  to  me  at  once,  that  most  of  my 
sorrows  and  sufferings  were  occasioned  by  an  unwillinsness  to 
be  the  irothing  which  I  am,  and  by  consequent  struggles  to  be 
something.  I  saw  if  I  would  but  cease  struggling,  and  con- 
sent to  be  any  thing,  or  nothing,  just  as  God  pleases,  I  might 
be  happy.  You  will  think  it  strange  that  I  mention  this  as  a 
new  discovery.  In  one  sense,  it  was  not  new ;  I  have  known 
it  for  years.     But  I  now  saw  it  in  a  new  light.     My  heart 

22 


'<-'r)4  TIIE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

yaw  it,  and  consented  to  it ;  and  I  am  comparatively  happy. 
My  dear  brother,  if  you  can  give  up  all  desire  to  be  great,  and 
feel  heartily  willing  to  be  nothing,  you  will  be  happy  too." 


REV.  JOHN  ELIOT. 


The  attachment  of  the  Rev.  John  Eliot,  usually  called  the 
"Apostle  to  the  Indians,"  to  peace  and  union  among  Christians, 
was  exceedingly  great.  When  he  heard  ministers  complain 
that  some  in  their  congregations  were  too  difficult  for  them, 
the  substance  of  his  advice  would  be,  "  Brother,  compass 
them  !"  "  Brother,  learn  the  meaning  of  those  three  little 
words — bear,  forbear,  forgive."  His  love  of  peace,  indeed, 
almost  led  him  to  sacrifice  right  itself.  When  a  bundle  of 
papers  was  laid  before  an  assembly  of  ministers,  which  con- 
tained the  particulars  of  a  contention  between  parties  who  he 
thought  ought  at  once  to  be  agreed,  he  hastily  threw  them  into 
the  fire,  and  said,  "  Brethren,  wonder  not  at  what  I  have  done; 
I  did  it  on  my  knees,  this  morning,  before  I  came  among  you." 


The  piety,  personal  and  relative,  of  this  holy  man,  was  very 
distinguished,  and  he  was  always  zealous  in  promoting  the 
same  spirit  among  others.  When  he  was  informed  of  any 
public  news,  he  would  say,  "  Brethren,  let  us  turn  all  this  into 
prayer."  When  he  paid  a  visit  to  his  friends,  he  used  to  say, 
"  Come,  let  us  not  have  a  visit  without  prayer ;  let  us  pray 
down  the  blessing  of  heaven  before  we  go."  And  whenever 
he  was  in  the  company  of  ministers,  he  said,  "  Brethren,  the 
Lord  Jesus  takes  notice  of  what  is  said  and  done  among  min- 
isters ;  come,  let  us  pray  before  we  part."     And  at  the  end  of 


REV.    DR.    LATHROP.  255 

his  Indian  Grammar,  he  records  this  memorable  sentence: 
"  Prayer  and  pains,  through  faith  in  Christ  Jesus,  can  do  any 
thing." 


REV.  DR.  LATHROP. 


The  late  Rev.  Dr.  Lathrop  was  a  man  of  genuine  piety,  but 
was  greatly  opposed  to  the  noisy  zeal  which  seeks  commenda- 
tion by  constantly  talking  about  it.  A  young  divine,  who  was 
much  given  to  religious  cant,  one  day  said  to  him,  "  Do  you 
suppose,  sir,  you  have  any  real  religion  V  The  good  doctor 
admirably  replied,  "  None  to  speak  of." 


This  eminent  man  seems  to  have  possessed  considerable 
talent  for  administering  reproof,  as  the  following  facts  will 
show : — 

He  once  engaged  a  young  man  to  preach  for  him,  who  un- 
fortunately delivered  a  sermon  which  had  very  little  connection 
with  his  text.  The  day  after  its  delivery,  the  author  of  it 
called  on  the  doctor  to  ascertain  its  merits.  "  Well,"  said  he, 
in  answer  to  the  anxious  inquiry  of  his  young  friend,  "  your 
sermon  was  well  enough ;  but  if  your  text  had  had  the  small- 
pox, your  sermon  would  not  have  caught  it." 


On  another  occasion,  a  neighbouring  minister,  not  much 
distinguished  for  eloquence,  had  engaged  to  deliver  a  lecture 
fir  him.  The  hour  for  the  service  came,  but  not  the  lecturer. 
The  doctor  went  through  the  preliminary  services,  and  then  sat 
down  to  await  the  arrival  of  his  tardy  brother.  After  an  in- 
terval of  a  few  minutes,  he  made  his  appearance,  and  walked 


256  THE    AMEKICAN    CLERGY. 

to  the  place  where  the  doctor  was  sitting.  It  happened  to  be 
a  rainy  day ;  and  the  minister  of  whom  we  are  speaking,  hav- 
ing got  somewhat  of  a  drenching,  began  to  shake  his  coat,  and 
express  his  sorrow  for  the  condition  he  was  in.  "  Oh,"  said 
the  doctor,  "  never  mind ;  go  up  into  the  pulpit ;  you'll  be  dry 
enough  there." 


A  PERSECUTING  CLERGYMAN. 

It  has  not  unfrequently  happened  that  the  laity  have  been 
wiser  than  their  clergy,  and  have  been  qualified  to  administer 
reproof  to  them.  Here  is  an  illustration.  Soon  after  the  late 
Dr.Rodgers  reached  Williamsburg,  in  Virginia,  then  a  British 
colony,  one  of  the  established  clergymen  of  Hanover  appeared 
with  him  before  Sir  William  Gooch,  the  lieutenant-governor, 
and  complained  that  this  young  gentleman,  before  going  to 
Williamsburg,  had  preached  one  sermon  in  Hanover,  contrary 
to  law,  urging  Sir  William  to  proceed  against  him  with  rigour. 
Sir  William's  reply  did  equal  honour  to  his  religious  senti- 
ments and  his  official  liberality  : — "  Mr. ,  I  am  surprised 

at  you !  You  profess  to  be  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  and 
yet  come  to  complain  of  a  man,  and  wish  me  to  punish  him, 
for  preaching  the  gospel !  FoY  shame,  sir !  Go  home,  and 
mind  your  own  duty  !  For  such  a  piece  of  conduct,  you 
deserve  to  have  your  gown  stripped  over  your  shoulders." 


BISHOP    GEORGE.  257 


BISHOP  GEORGE. 


An  aged  traveller,  worn  and  weary,  was  gently  urging  on 
i^is  tired  beast,  just  as  the  sun  was  dropping  behind  the  range 
of  hills  that  bounds  the  horizon  of  Springfield,  Ohio.  It  was 
a  sultry  August  evening,  and  he  had  journeyed  a  distance  of 
twenty -five  miles  since  morning,  his  pulse  throbbing  under  the 
influence  of  a  burning  sun.  At  Fairfield,  he  had  been  hospi- 
tably entertained  by  one  who  had  recognised  the  veteran  sol- 
dier of  the  cross,  and  who  had  ministered  to  him  for  his  Mas- 
ter's sake,  of  the  benefits  he  himself  had  received  from  the 
hand  "  which  feedeth  the  young  lions  when  they  lack ;"  and 
he  travelled  on,  refreshed  in  spirit.  But  many  a  weary  mile 
had  he  journeyed  over  since  then  ;  and  now,  as  the  evening 
shades  darkened  around,  he  felt  the  burden  of  age  and  toil 
heavy  upon  him,  and  he  desired  the  pleasant  retreat  he  had 
pictured  to  himself  when  that  day's  pilgrimage  should  be 
accomplished. 

It  was  not  lonor  before  the  old  man  checked  his  tired  animal 
at  the  door  of  the  anxiously  looked-for  haven  of  rest.  A  mid- 
dle-aged woman  was  at  hand,  to  whom  he  mildly  applied  for 
accommodations  for  himself  and  horse. 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  she,  coldly,  after  scrutinizing  for 
some  time  the  appearance  of  the  traveller,  which  was  not  the 
most  promising,  "  that  we  can  take  you  in,  old  man.  You 
seem  tired,  however,  and  I'll  see  if  the  minister  of  the  circuit, 
who  is  here  to-night,  will  let  you  lodge  with  him." 

The  young  circuit  preacher  soon  made  his  appearance, 
and,  swaggering  up  to  the  old  man  with  great  consequence,  ex- 
amined him  for  some  moments  inquisitively ;  then  asked  a  few 
impertinent  questions;  and,  finally,  after  adjusting  his  hair 
half  a  dozen  times,  feeling  his  smoothly-shaven  chin  as  often 
consented  that  the  stranger  should  share  his  bed  for  the  night, 

and,  turning  upon  his  heel,  entered  the  house. 

22* 


258  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

The  traveller,  aged  and  weary  as  he  was,  dismounted,  and 
led  his  faithful  animal  to  the  stable,  where,  with  his  own  hands, 
he  rubbed  him  down,  watered  him,  and  gave  him  food,  and 
then  entered  the  mansion  where  he  had  expected  so  much  kind- 
ness. A  Methodist  family  resided  in  the  house,  and  as  the 
circuit  preacher  was  to  be  there  that  day,  great  preparations 
were  made  to  entertain  him ;  and  a  number  of  the  Methodist 
young  ladies  of  the  neighbourhood  had  been  invited,  so  that 
quite  a  party  met  the  eyes  of  the  stranger  as  he  entered,  not 
one  of  whom  took  the  slightest  notice  of  him,  and  he  wearily 
sought  a  vacant  chair  in  the  corner,  out  of  direct  observation, 
but  where  he  could  observe  all  that  was  going  on ;  and  his 
anxious  eyes  showed  that  he  was  no  careless  observer  of  what 
was  transpiring  around  him. 

The  young  minister  played  his  part  with  all  the  frivolity 
and  foolishness  of  a  city  beau,  and  nothing  like  religion  came 
from  his  lips.  Now  he  was  chattering  and  bandying  senseless 
compliments  with  this  young  lady,  and  then  engaged  in  trifling 
repartee  with  another,  who  was  anxious  to  seem  interesting  in 
his  eyes. 

The  stranger,  after  an  hour,  during  which  no  refreshments 
had  been  prepared  for  him,  asked  to  be  shown  to  his  room,  to 
which  he  retired  unnoticed,  grieved  and  shocked  at  the  conduct. 
of  the  family  and  minister.  Taking  from  his  saddle-bags  a 
well-worn  Bible,  he  seated  himself  in  a  chair,  and  was  soon 
buried  in  thought,  holy  and  elevating,  and  had  food  to  eat 
which  those  who  passed  by  him  in  pity  and  scorn  dreamed  not 
of.  Hour  after  hour  passed  away,  and  no  one  came  to  invite 
the  old  worn-down  traveller  to  partake  of  the  luxurious  supper 
which  was  served  below. 

Towards  eleven  o'clock  the  minister  came  up  stairs,  and, 
without  pause  or  prayer,  hastily  threw  off  his  clothes,  and  got 
into  the  middle  of  a  small  bed,  which  was  to  be  the  resting- 
place  of  the  old  man  as  well  as  himself.     After  a  while  the 


BISHOr    GEORGE.  259 

aged  stranger  rose  up,  and  after  partially  disrobing  himself, 
knelt  down,  and  remained  many  minutes  in  fervent  prayer. 
The  earnest  breathing  out  of  his  soul  soon  arrested  the  atten- 
tion of  the  young  preacher,  who  began  to  feel  some  few  re- 
proofs  of  conscience  for  his  own  neglect  of  duty.  The  old 
man  now  rose  from  his  knees,  and  after  slowly  undressing 
himself,  got  mto  bed,  or  rather  upon  the  edge  of  the  bed,  for 
the  young  preacher  had  taken  possession  of  the  centre,  and 
would  not,  voluntarily,  move  an  inch. 

In  this  uncomfortable  position  the  stranger  lay  for  some 
time  in  silence.  At  length  the  youngest  of  the  two  made  a 
remark,  to  which  the  elder  replied  in  a  style  and  manner  that 
arrested  his  attention.  On  this  he  removed  over  an  inch  or 
two,  and  made  more  room. 

"  How  far  have  you  come  to-day,  old  man  ?" 

*'  Thirty-five  miles." 

"  From  where  ?" 

"  From  Springfield." 

"  Ah,  indeed  !  You  must  be  tired  after  so  long  a  journey  for 
one  of  your  age." 

"  Yes,  this  poor  old  body  is  much  worn  down  by  long  and 
constant  travel,  and  I  feel  that  the  journey  of  to-day  has 
exhausted  me  much." 

The  young  minisier  moved  over  a  little. 

"  You  do  not  belong  to  Springfield,  then  ?" 

"  No  ;  I  have  no  abiding  place." 

"  How  ?" 

"  I  have  no  continuing  city.  My  home  is  beyond  this  vale 
of  tears." 

Another  move  of  the  minister.  "  How  far  have  you  tra- 
velled on  your  present  journey  ?" 

"  From  Philadelphia." 

"  From  Philadelphia !  (In  evident  surprise.)    The  Methodist 


260  THE    AMERICAN    CLEKGY. 

General  Conference  was  in  session  there  a  short  time  since , 
had  it  broken  up  when  you  left?" 

"  It  adjourned  the  day  before  I  started." 

"  Ah,  indeed  !"  moving  still  farther  towards  the  front  side 
of  the  bed,  and  allowing  the  stranger  more  accommodation. 
"  Had  Bishop  George  left  when  you  came  out?" 

*'  Yes,  he  started  at  the  same  time  I  did  ;  we  left  in  com- 
pany." 

"  Indeed  !" 

Here  the  circuit  preacher  relinquished  a  full  half  of  the  bed, 
and  politely  requested  the  stranger  to  occupy  a  larger  space. 

"  How  did  the  bishop  look  ?  He  is  getting  old  and  feeble,  is 
he  not  ?" 

"  He  carries  his  age  tolerably  well ;  but  his  labour  is  a  hard 
one,  and  he  begins  to  show  signs  of  failing  strength." 

"  He  is  expected  this  way  in  a  week  or  two  ;  how  glad  shall 
I  be  to  shake  hands  with  the  old  veteran  of  the  cross  !  But 
}ou  say  you  left  in  company  with  the  old  man ;  how  far  did 
you  come  together?" 

"We  travelled  alone  for  a  long  distance." 

"  You  travelled  alone  with  the  bishop  ?" 

"Yes,  we  have  been  intimate  for  years." 

"  You  intimate  with  Bishop  George  ?" 

"  Yes,  why  not  ?" 

"  Bless  me  !  Why  did  I  not  know  that !  But  may  I  be  so 
bold  as  to  inquire  your  name  ?" 

After  a  moment's  hesitation,  the  stranger  replied,  "  George." 

"  George  !     Not  Bishop  George  ?" 

"  They  call  me  Bishop  George,"  meekly  replied  the  old 
man. 

"Why — bless  me.  Bishop  George !"  exclaimed  the  now 
abashed  preacher,  springing  from  the  bed,  "  You  have  had  no 
supper!  I  will  instantly  call  up  the  family.  Why  did  you  not 
tell  us  who  you  were  ?' 


BISHOP    GEORGE.  261 

"  Stop,  stop,  my  friend,"  said  the  bishop  gravely.  "  I  want 
no  supper  here,  and  should  not  have  eaten  any  had  it  been  got 
for  me.  If  an  old  man,  toil-worn  and  weary,  fainting  with 
travelling  through  all  the  long  summer  day,  was  not  considered 
worthy  of  a  meal  by  this  family,  who  profess  to  have  set  up 
the  altar  of  God  in  their  house.  Bishop  George  surely  is  not. 
lie  is  at  best  but  a  man,  and  has  no  claims  beyond  those  of 
common  humanity." 

A  night  of  severer  mortification  the  young  minister  had 
never  experienced.  The  bishop  kindly  admonished  him,  and 
warned  him  of  the  great  necessity  there  was  of  his  adorning 
the  doctrines  of  Christ,  by  following  him  sincerely  and  hum- 
bly. Gently,  but  earnestly,  he  endeavoured  to  win  him  back 
from  his  wanderings  of  heart,  and  direct  him  to  trust  more  in 
God,  and  less  in  his  own  strength. 

In  the  morning  the  bishop  prayed  with  him  long  and  fer- 
vently before  he  left  the  chamber ;  and  was  glad  to  see  his 
heart  melted  into  contrition.  Soon  after  the  bishop  descended, 
and  was  met  by  the  heads  of  the  family  with  a  thousand  sin- 
cere apologies.  He  mildly  silenced  them,  and  asked  to  have 
his  horse  brought  out.  The  horse  was  accordingly  soon  in 
readiness,  and  the  bishop,  taking  up  his  saddle-bags,  was  pre- 
paring to  depart. 

"  But  surely,  bishop,"  urged  the  distressed  matron,  "  you 
will  not  thus  leave  us  ?  Wait  a  few  minutes ;  breakfast  is  on 
the  table." 

"  No,  sister  L ,  I  cannot  take  breakfast  here ;  you  did 

not  consider  a  poor  toil-worn  traveller  worthy  of  a  meal ;  and 
your  bishop  has  no  claim  but  such  as  humanity  urges." 

And  thus  he  departed,  leaving  the  family  and  minister  in 
confusion  and  sorrow.  He  did  not  act  thus  from  resentment, 
for  no  such  emotion  rose  in  his  heart ;  but  he  desired  to  teach 
them  a  lesson,  such  as  they  would  not  easily  forget. 

Six  months  from  this  time  the  Ohio  Annual  Conference  met 


262  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

at  Cincinnati,  and  the  young  minister  was  to  present  himself 
for  ordination  as  a  deacon ;  and  Bishop  George  was  to  be  the 
presiding  bishop. 

On  the  first  day  of  the  assembling  of  Conference,  our  young 
minister's  heart  sunk  within  him,  as  he  saw  the  venerable  bi- 
shop take  his  seat.  So  great  was  his  grief  and  agitation,  that 
he  was  soon  obliged  to  leave  the  room.     That  evening,  as  the 

bishop  was  seated  alone  in  his  chamber,  the  Rev.  Mr. was 

announced,  and  he  requested  him  to  be  shown  up. 

The  bishop  grasped  the  young  man  by  the  hand  with  a  cor- 
diality which  he  did  not  expect,  for  he  had  made  careful  in- 
quiries, and  found  that  since  they  had  met  before,  a  great 
change  had  been  wrought  in  him.  He  was  now  as  humble  as 
he  was  before  self-sufficient  and  worldly-minded.  As  a  father 
would  have  received  a  disobedient  and  repentant  child,  so  did 
this  good  man  receive  his  erring  but  contrite  brother.  They 
mingled  their  tears  together,  while  the  young  preacher  wept  as 
a  child,  even  upon  the  bosom  of  his  spiritual  father.  At  that 
session  he  was  ordained,  and  became  one  of  the  most  pioufe 
and  useful  ministers  in  the  Ohio  Conference. 


TWO  YOUNG  MINISTERS. 


Two  young  men  entered  the  ministry  at  the  same  time.  One 
of  them  had  great  success  in  the  conversion  of  sinners,  the 
other  had  none.  Meeting  one  day,  the  one  inquired  of  the 
other  how  this  fact  was  to  be  accounted  for.  "  Why,"  replied 
the  other,  "  the  reason  is,  that  I  aim  at  a  different  end  in 
preaching  from  you.  My  object  is  to  convert  sinners,  but  you 
aim  at  no  such  thing.  And  then  you  go  and  lay  it-  to  sove- 
reignty in  God,  that  you  do  not  produce  the  same  effect,  when 
you  never  aim  at  it.     Here,  take  one  of  my  sermons,  and 


REV.    DR.    BELLAMY.  263 

preach  it  to  your  people,  and  see  what  the  effect  will  be."  The 
other  minister  did  so,  and  preached  the  sermon,  and  it  pro- 
duced effect.  He  was  frightened  when  sinners  began  to  weep  ; 
and  when  one  came  to  him  after  the  meeting  to  ask  what  he 
should  do,  the  minister  apologized  to  him,  and  said,  "  I  did  not 
aim  toward  you ;  I  am  sorry  if  I  have  hurt  your  feelings." 


REV.  DR.  BELLAMY. 


Holy  activity  in  the  cause  of  God,  and  caring  for  the  souls 
of  men,  has  ever  been  found  by  ministers,  as  well  as  by  more 
private  Christians,  the  best  remedy  against  mental  dejection. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Bellamy,  of  Bethlehem,  Conn.,  whose  eminence 
for  piety  and  talents  must  long  live,  was  often  subject  to  great 
anxiety  of  mind,  when  he  was  filled  with  the  impression  that 
he  was  certainly  going  to  hell.  At  such  times,  his  ministerial 
brethren  visited  him,  and  endeavoured  to  relieve  his  mind  ; 
but  all  experiments  having  failed,  one  of  them  said  to  him, 
'•'  Well,  doctor,  it  may  be  that,  after  all,  your  convictions  con- 
cerning yourself  are  true,  and  that  you  will  certainly  go  to 
hell ;  but  have  you  thought  what  you  will  do  when  you  get 
there  ?  how  you  will  spend  your  time  ?"  The  doctor  instantly 
caught  up  the  inquiry,  "  What  will  I  do  when  I  get  there  ? 
Why,  I  will  set  up  prayer-meetings,  and  vindicate  the  law  of 
God !"  "  But,"  replied  his  friend,  "  the  devil  will  not  have 
you  there,  if  you  engage  in  such  employments."  This  had 
the  happy  effect  of  showing  him  that  he  had  no  sympathies 
for  the  employment  of  hell,  and  that  his  heart  was  united  to 
the  cause  of  God. 


264  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

A  young  clergyman  once  visited  the  good  old  doctor,  to 
propose  the  inquiry,  "What  shall  I  do  to  supply  myself  with 
matter  for  my  sermons  ?"  The  doctor  quaintly  replied,  "  Fill 
up  the  cask,  Jill  up  the  cask,  fill  up  the  cask  ;  and  then,  if 
you  tap  it  anywhere,  you  will  get  a  good  stream.  But  if  you 
put  in  but  little',  it  will  dribble,  dribble,  dribble,  and  you  must 
tipi  tip,  tip,  and  then  you  get  but  little,  after  all." 


TWO  CLERGYMEN. 


A  FEW  years  since,  two  New  England  divines  were  con- 
versing together  respecting  the  various  theories  concerning  the 
origin  of  sin,  when  a  lady  who  was  present  interrupted  them, 
saying,  "  It  seems  to  me  that  it  would  be  far  better  for  minis- 
ters, instead  of  puzzling  themselves  to  know  how  sin  entered 
into  tJie  world,  to  unite  their  efforts  and  try  how  much  of  it, 
with  God's  blessing,  they  can  drive  out."  "  You  remind  me, 
madam,"  said  one  of  the  clergymen,  "  of  my  aged  deacon, 
who,  after  listening  to  a  sermon  in  which  I  had  endeavoured  to 
explain  why  God  suffered  sin  to  enter  the  world,  being  asked 
what  he  thought  of  my  theory,  shook  his  head,  and  said,  '  Ah, 
sir !    all  I   know  about  it  is,  I  am  a  sinner,  and  I  wish   I 


REV.  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 


We  transcribe  the  following  anecdote  from  a  recent  English 
publication,  in  which  it  is  said  to  have  been  related  to  a  gen- 
tleman in  New  York,  by  an  individual  still  living,  who  was 
then  a  boarder  in  Dr.  Finley's  family.     It  will  be  remembered 


REV.    GEORGE    WHITEFIELD.  265 

by  our  readers  how  exactly  Whitefield's  death  fulfilled  his  pre- 
diction : — 

In  the  last  visit  but  one  which  Mr.  Whitefield  paid  to  Ame- 
rica, he  spent  a  day  or  two  at  Princeton,  under  the  roof  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Finiey,  then  president  of  the  college  at  that  'place. 
At  dinner,  the  doctor  said,  "  Mr.  Whitefield,  I  hope  it  will  be 
very  long  before  you  will  be  called  home;  but  when  that  event 
shall  arrive,  I  should  be  glad  to  hear  the  noble  testimony  you 
will  bear  for  God."  Whitefield  replied,  "  You  would  be  dis- 
appointed, Doctor ;  I  shall  die  silent.  It  has  pleased  God  to 
enable  me  to  bear  so  many  testimonies  for  him  during  my  life, 
that  he  will  require  none  from  me  when  I  die.  No,  no !  It  is 
your  dumb  Christians,  that  have  walked  in  fear  and  darkness, 
and  thereby  been  unable  to  bear  a  testimony  for  God  during 
their  Lives,  that  he  compels  to  speak  out  for  him  on  their  death- 
beds." 


A  short  time  before  the  death  of  Mr.  Whitefield,  the  Rev.  W. 
Tennent  paid  him  a  visit,  as  he  was  passing  through  New  Jer- 
sey; and  one  day  dined  with  him  and  several  other  ministers, 
at  a  gentleman's  house.  After  dinner,  Mr.  W.  adverted  to  the 
difficulties  attending  the  Christian  ministry  ;  lamented  that  all 
their  zeal  availed  but  little ;  said  that  he  was  weary  with  the 
burden  of  the  day ;  and  declared  the  great  consolation,  that  in 
a  short  time  his  work  would  be  done,  when  he  should  depart 
and  be  with  Christ.  He  then  appealed  to  the  ministers,  if  it 
was  not  their  great  comfort  that  they  should  soon  go  to  rest. 
They  generally  assented,  except  Mr.  T.,  who  sat  next  to  Mr 
W.,  in  silence,  and  by  his  countenance  discovered  but  little 
pleasure  in  the  conversation.  On  which  Mr.  W.,  tapping  him 
on  the  knee,  said,  "  Well,  brother  Tennent,  you  are  the  oldest 
man  among  us ;  do  you  not  rejoice  to  think  that  your  time  is 
so  near  at  hand,  when  you  will  be  called  home?"     Mr.  T. 

23 


266  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY 

bluntly  answered,  "  I  have  no  wish  about  it.  Mr.  W.  pressed 
him  again.  Mr.  T.  again  answered,  "  No,  sir,  it  is  no 
pleasure  to  me  at  all ;  and  if  you  knew  your  duty,  it  would  bo 
none  to  you.  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  death  ;  my  business 
is  to  live  as  long  as  I  can,  as  well  as  I  can,  and  to  serve  my 
Master  as  faithfully  as  I  can,  until  he  shall  think  proper 
call  me  home."  Mr.  W.  still  urged  for  an  explicit  answer  to 
his  question,  in  case  the  time  of  death  were  left  to  his  own 
choice.  Mr.  T.  replied,  "  I  have  no  choice  about  it ;  I  am 
God's  servant,  and  have  engaged  to  do  his  business  as  long  as 
he  pleases  to  continue  me  therein.  But  now,  brother,  let  me 
ask  you  a  question  :  what  do  you  think  I  should  say,  if  I  were 
to  send  my  man  into  the  field  to  plough;  and  if  at  noon  1 
should  go  to  the  field,  and  find  him  lounging  under  a  tree,  and 
complaining,  '  Master,  the  sun  is  very  hot,  and  the  ploughing 
hard ;  I  am  weary  of  the  work  you  have  appointed  me,  and 
am  overdone  with  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day.  Do, 
master,  let  me  return  home  and  be  discharged  from  this  hard 
service.'  What  shouljl  I  say  ?  Why,  that  he  was  a  lazy  fel- 
low, and  that  it  was  his  business  to  do  the  work  that  I  had 
appointed  him,  until  I  should  think  fit  to  call  him  home." 


SEVERAL  CLERGYMEN. 


A  CORRESPONDENT  of  a  Ncw  York  paper  says  : — 
Not  many  months  since,  I  was  standing  in  a  certain  store, 
in  a  city  in  which  there  were  several  ministers  and  other 
Christian  brethren,  conversing  about  a  clergyman  then  just 
leaving  the  said  city  for  another  field  of  labour.  Among  other 
remarks,  an  expression  was  dropped,  about  ministers  not  being 
respected;  when  one  of  the  company,  a  worthy  deacon,  spoke 
up  with  considerable  apparent  warmth,  "  Well,  ministers  need 


KEV.    JOHN    LELAND.  267 

M 

not  expect  to  be  respected  much  by  the  people  till  they  respect 
each  other  a  little  more." 

"  How  so  ?"  said  one. 

"  How  so  !"  replied  the  deacon,  "why,  many  ministers  come 
into  this  store,  and  I  often  Hear  them  talking  about  one  an- 
other, and  seldom  hear  them  speak  well.  They  criticise  their 
brethren  severely,  and  speak  meanly  of  their  talents." 


A  distinguished  divine  was  not  long  since  conversing  with  a 
Methodist  clergyman  of  devout  piety  and  zeal.  In  all  their 
religious  feelings,  they  perfectly  harmonized,  till  at  last  the 
Methodist  gently  suggested  his  astonishment,  that  his  compa- 
nion should  believe  in  the  doctrine  of  election.  "  Why,  my 
dear  sir,"  was  the  reply,  "  if  you  are  a  Christian,  did  not  God 
always  intend  that  you  should  be  one  ?  There  is  the  doctrine 
of  election?" 

What  can  be  said  upon  the  subject,  more  clear,  or  more 
convincing,  by  the  longest  dissertation  that  was  ever  penned? 


REV.  JOHN  LELAND. 


At  one  period  of  the  ministry  of  this  good  man,  he  was 
considerably  annoyed  by  a  Universalist  minister,  who  endea- 
voured in  every  possible  way  to  draw  him  into  controversy, 
but  entirely  without  effect.  At  length,  as  the  worthy  pastor 
was  riding  along,  finding  a  crowd  around  the  shop  of  the  vil- 
lage blacksmith,  he  turned  his  horse  in  that  direction,  and  saw 
the  Universalist  minister  addressinfj  his  neighbours,  boastincr 
of  the  inability  of  Mr.  Leland  to  hold  an  argument  with  him 
Not  a  few  questions  were  proposed  to  Mr.  L.  on  the  subject,  to 
which  he  returned  mild  and  ready  answers.     At  length,  the 


268  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

preacher  of  error  asked,  in  a  tone  of  triumph,  why  he  had 
neglected  to  answer  several  notes  addressed  to  him,  challenging 
him  to  a  discussion  on  their  differences.  The  worthy  old  cler- 
gyman, who  had  hitherto  never  touched  the  subject,  now  felt 
that  he  must  "  answer  a  fool  according  to  his  folly,"  and  said, 
Avith  great  mildness,  "  Sir,  when  I  was  a  lad,  my  father  used 
to  say  to  me,  '  John,  never  kill  a  skunk  ;  for,  even  when  dead, 
it  will  be  but  a  skunk  still.' "  The  result  was  decisive ;  the 
Universalist  was  silent ;  and  such  was  the  tone  thus  given  to 
public  opinion,  that  the  said  preacher  was  soon  compelled  to 
leave  the  neighbourhood. 


REV.  DR.  MERCER. 


The  Rev.  President  Manly  gives  the  following  illustration 
of  the  intense  feeling  of  this  venerable  minister ; — 

I  saw  him  at  Eatonton,  in  1824,  in  an  aspect  which  I  must 
relate,  as  it  illustrates  the  simple  piety  and  tenderness  of  his 
heart.  It  was  on  a  Sunday  of  the  meeting  of  the  Georgia 
convention.  Brother  S and  I  were  present.  Brother  Mer- 
cer sat  in  the  pulpit  with  us.     S got  up,  and,  in  his  quaint 

way,  surveyed  the  very  large  assembly,  with  several  glances, 
and  opened  his  address  thus :  "  Where  shall  we  obtain  bread 
to  feed  so  great  a  multitude?  For  my  part,  I  am  unprovided 
and  penniless ;  but  there  is  a  lad  here,"  turning  round  and 
putting  his  hand  on  my  head  as  I  leaned  forward  in  the  pulpit, 
"  who  has  five  barley-loaves  and  two  little  fishes,  which,  with 
the  presence  and  blessing  of  Jesus,  shall  constitute  a  feast." 
This  well  nigh  upset  me.  But  it  drove  me  to  prayer.  The 
Lord  loosed  my  mind,  and  unlocked  the  fountain  of  tears,  so 
that  it  was  computed  that,  through  a  great  part  of  the  discourse, 
there  was  ai\  average  of  at  least  five  hundred  persons  continu- 


REV.    CALEB    BLOOD.  269 

ally  bathed  in  tears.  There  was  nothing  in  all  this  Bochivi 
that  to  me  was  so  affecting,  as  when  I  turned  round  and  saw 
the  sympathetic  streams  coursing  swiftly  down  the  furrowed 
cheeks  of  Father  Mercer." 


This  shrewd  observer,  once  conversing  about  a  preacher  who 
had  a  little  learning  and  a  great  deal  of  conceit,  made  this  re- 
mark :  "  He  reminds  me  of  a  foolish  dog  I  once  heard  of,  that 
ivas  in  pursuit  of  a  deer,  but  coming  to  a  place  where  a  fox 
\ad  crossed  the  track,  he  left  the  deer  and  ran  after  the  fox. 
He  had  not  followed  the  fox  far,  before  he  arrived  at  a  spot 
where  a  rabbit  had  crossed.  Forthwith  he  leaves  the  fox,  and 
pursues  the  rabbit;  and  when  the  hunter  came  up,  he  had  left 

the  rabbit  and  was  barking  at  a  mouse-hole.     Brother 

sometimes  sets  out  after  something  valuable,  but  before  he  stops, 
his  folly  drives  him  to  the  mouse-hole. 


When  this  wise  counsellor  would  at  any  time  dissuade  his 
brethren  from  projects  which  required  pecuniary  means  beyond 
what  they  had  in  hand,  he  would  often  say,  "  Let  us  get  the 
fodder  before  we  buy  the  horse." 


REV.  CALEB  BLOOD. 


The  late  Rev.  Caleb  Blood,  of  Boston,  was  once  walking  to 
his  church,  in  company  with  the  Rev.  Lewis  Leonard,  of  New 
York,  then  a  very  young  man.  On  his  way  to  worship,  the 
young  mmister,  who  felt  the  dignity  of  his  friend,  and  who  was 


270  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

well  aware  of  the  high  respectability  of  the  Charles  Street 
Church,  said,  with  much  modesty,  "  How  can  I  preach  before 
youV*  The  reply  of  the  aged  minister  of  the  cross  was, 
"  Preach  before  me !  how  can  you  preach  before  God  ?"  and 
then  went  on  to  make  to  him  the  most  soothing  and  comforta- 
ble remarks,  which  at  that  time  inspired  him  with  moral  cou- 
rage, and  became  eminently  useful  in  his  future  life. 


INTERCOURSE  OF  THE  CLERGY  WITH 
SOCIETY. 


(271) 


BISHOP    CHASE.  273 


BISHOP  CHASE. 

There  lived  in  Poughkeepsie  a  venerable  lady  and  her 
talented  son-in-law.  The  former  was  exceedingly  anxious  about 
the  latter,  because  of  his  loose  and  infidel  opinions  on  religious 
subjects ;  and  yet  few  men  were  more  amiable  in  manners,  or 
more  sprightly  in  conversation.  "  Oh,  sir  !"  said  the  lady  to 
Bishop  Chase,  the  writer  of  this  account,  "  I  wish  you  to  have 
a  serious  conversation  with  my  son-in-law,  on  the  subject  of 
Christianity.  Perhaps  he  may  hearken  to  you,  though  to  all 
of  us  he  turns  a  deaf  ear,  whenever  we  speak  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures." 

A  proposal  of  this  kind  seemed  to  be  identified  with  the 
writer's  profession.  Accordingly,  a  day  was  appointed  when 
the  lady  would  spend  a  social  afternoon  with  the  writer  and 
his  family,  there  being  no  doubt  that  the  interesting  young 
lawyer  would  join  the  party  at  tea.  The  interview  took  place 
as  was  expected,  and,  in  the  full  flow  of  talk,  something  was 
designedly  introduced,  touching  the  Christian  religion.  Con- 
trary to  the  expectation  of  his  relatives  and  friends,  this  inte- 
resting gentleman  neither  evaded  nor  opposed  what  was  said, 
but  candidly  confessed  he  was  differently  impressed  on  that 
subject  from  what  he  had  been.  "  Till  a  few  days  ago,"  said 
he,  "  I  should  have  brought  forward  my  preliminaries ;  and 
before  the  thresholds  of  Christianity  were  passed,  I  would  have 
insisted  that  they  should  all  be  satisfactorily  answered  ;  but,  at 
present,  I  feel  differently  disposed." 

"  And  what  has  wrought  the  change  ?"  asked  the  writer. 

"  Oh,  sir  !"  said  he,  "  I  must  tell  the  whole  story ;  it  relates 
chiefly  to  General  Hamilton. 

*'  You  know,"  said  he,  "  that  pre-eminent  character ;  that  he 
is  not  only  the  greatest  in  the  field,  in  the  senate,  and  at  the 
bar,  but  also  the  most  agreeable  man  in  social  intercourse.    In 


274  THE    AiMERICAN    CLERGY. 

pursuit  of  his  professional  duties,  he  passes  from  New  York 
to  Albany,  to  attend  the  higher  courts,  and  Poughkeepsie  is  his 
stopping-place  for  rest  and  social  chat.  We  young  lawyers 
dehght  to  meet  him  at  Hendrickson's  tavern,  and  there  breathe 
together  the  atmosphere  of  wit  and  satire.  Not  long  since,  he 
passed  by :  we  gathered  round  him,  and  he  greeted  us  with  his 
usual  cordiality.  But  there  was  something  altered  in  his  wit ; 
it  was  solemn,  yet  more  affectionate.  At  length,  to  break  the 
spell,  /ventured,  as  erst,  a  story,  the  edge  of  which  was  ridi- 
cule against  Christians  and  their  creed.  As  I  finished  the 
anecdote,  instead  of  the  loud  laugh,  and  responsive  tale,  the 
general  gravely  asked  me  if  I  knew  what  I  had  been  talking 
of?  Confusion  is  the  best  name  I  can  give  my  feelings  and 
behaviour  before  the  great  man,  at  such  a  question  from  his 
lips.  Seeing  my  embarrassment,  he  said  he  did  not  design  to 
give  me  pain,  but  by  his  question  to  call  my  attention  to  his 
own  case. 

"  Not  many  months  ago,"  said  he,  "I  was,  as  you  are,  doubt- 
ful of  the  truths  of  Christianity  ;  but  some  circumstances  turned 
my  thoughts  to  the  investigation  of  the  subject,  and  I  now 
think  differently.  I  had  been  in  company  with  some  friends 
of  a  similar  sentiment  in  New  York.  I  had  indulged  in  re- 
marks much  to  the  disadvantage  of  Christians  and  in  disparage- 
ment of  their  religion.  I  had  gone  further  than  ever  before  I 
had  done  in  this  way.  Coming  home,  I  stood,  late  at  night, 
on  the  door-steps,  waiting  for  my  servant.  In  this  moment  of 
stillness,  my  thoughts  returned  to  what  had  just  passed  at  my 
friend's,  and  on  what  I  had  said  there.  And  what  if  the  Chris- 
tian religion  be  true !  The  thought  certainly  was  natural,  and 
it  produced  in  my  bosom  the  most  alarming  feelings.  I  was 
conscious  that  I  had  never  examined  it — not  even  with  that 
attention  which  a  small  retaining  fee  requires  in  civil  cases. 
In  that,  I  hold  myself  bound  to  make  up  my  mind  according 
to  the  laws  of  evidence ;  and  shall  nothing  be  done  of  this 


BISHOP   CHASE.  275 

sort,  in  a  question  that  involves  the  fate  of  man's  immortal 
being?  Where  every  thing  is  at  stake,  shall  I  risk  all 
without  inquiry?  Wilfully  blinding  my  own  eyes,  shall  I 
laugh  at  that  which,  if  true,  will  laugh  me  to  scorn  in  the  day 
of  judgment?  These  questions  did  not  allow  me  to  sleep 
quietly.  In  the  morning,  I  sent  to  my  friends,  the  clergy,  for 
such  books  as  treated  on  the  evidences  of  Christianity.  I 
read  them ;  and  the  result  is,  that  I  believe  the  religion  of 
Christians  to  be  the  truth — that  Jesus  Christ  is  the  Son  of 
God ;  that  he  made  an  atonement  for  our  sins  by  his  death, 
and  that  he  rose  for  our  justification. 

"  This  is  the  substance  of  General  Hamilton's  declaration  to 
me  at  Hendrickson's,  and  you  may  judge  how  I  feel  since. 
As  I  have  followed  the  general  in  many  other  respects,  so 
would  I  imitate  him  here. 

"  Will  you  lend  me  books,  that  I  may  read  as  he  did,  before 
I  give  my  opinion  ?" 

The  books  were  accordingly  taken  to  his  house,  but  he 
never  read  them.  A  press  of  business  intervened.  He  put 
off  his  duty  till  a  more  convenient  season ;  that  season  never 
came  till  it  was  too  late.  A  sudden  disease  deprived  him  of 
reason  and  of  life.  This  talented  and  interesting  young  lawyer 
passed  from  a  temporal  to  an  eternal  state — and  let  the  word 
of  God  tell  the  rest. 

The  story  of  General  Hamilton,  which  this  talented  person 
was  the  means  of  communicating  to  the  writer,  ought  not  to 
be  forgotten.  It  was,  from  the  time  the  writer  heard  it,  of  the 
deepest  interest ;  and  when  the  tidings  came  of  the  general's 
death,  it  formed  the  basis  of  a  sermon  preached  in  Poughkeep- 
sie,  on  the  second  day  of  July,  1804.  This  story  is  recorded 
here  because  it  forms  a  part  of  the  writer's  reminiscences. 


276  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Bedell  relates,  that  while  Bishop  Chase  was 
at  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Beck,  in  Philadelphia,  he  received  a 
package  from  Dr.  Ward,  the  Bishop  of  Sodor  and  Man,  making 
inquiries  relating  to  certain  property  in  this  country,  of  which 
some  old  person  in  his  diocese  was  the  heir.  The  letter  had 
gone  to  Ohio,  followed  him  to  Washington,  then  to  Philadel- 
phia, and  found  him  at  Mr.  Beck's.  When  he  read  it  to  Mr. 
B.,  the  latter  was  in  amazement,  and  said,  "  Bishop  Chase,  1 
am  the  only  man  in  the  world  who  can  give  you  information. 
I  have  the  deeds  in  my  possession,  and  have  had  them  forty - 
three  years,  not  knowing  what  to  do  with  them,  or  where  any 
heirs  were  to  be  found."  How  wonderful  that  the  application 
should  have  been  made  to  Bishop  Chase,  and  he  not  in  Ohio, 
but  a  guest  in  the  house  of  the  only  man  who  possessed  any 
information  on  the  subject ! 


A  FAITHFUL  MINISTER. 


A  MINISTER  was  called  to  conduct  a  conference  meeting,  in 
an  extreme  part  of  a  parish  where  he  was  an  entire  stranger, 
the  minister  for  whom  he  officiated  being  out  of  town.  Two 
rough-looking  men  came  in,  as  the  effect  of  persuasion,  but 
evidently  with  reluctance.  In  the  midst  of  the  exercises,  one 
of  them  interrupted  the  speaker  by  a  rude  question.  He  was 
requested  to  be  silent  for  a  little  time,  when  an  answer  should 
be  given  to  him.  He  uttered  some  abusive  language,  and 
retired  to  another  room.  After  a  while,  the  minister  discussed 
the  various  objections  on  the  part  of  men  to  embrace  religion, 
and  remarked  that  the  false  religion  of  many  professors  was 
no  more  an  argument  for  rejecting  true  religion,  than  that  we 
should  refuse  genuine  money  because  some  men  were  wicked 


TRAVELLING    CLERGYMEN.  XiTT 

enough  to  pass  counterfeits.  At  this  remark,  the  other  of  the 
two  men  also  left  the  room.  It  afterwards  became  known  to 
the  speaker  that  these  men,  the  preceding  week,  had  been  tried 
for  this  very  crime,  and  that,  in  public  opinion,  they  were 
both  guilty.  How  admirably  adapted  is  the  word  of  God  for 
the  conviction  of  sinners  ! 


TRAVELLING  CLERGYMEN. 


There  is  sometliing  so  interesting,  so  instructive,  so  home- 
like^ in  the  following  narrative,  communicated  by  a  plain  coun- 
try clergyman  to  one  of  our  periodicals,  that  we  transfer  its 
facts  and  remarks  to  our  pages : — 

Once  we  entertained  an  angel.  It  happened  in  this  wise. 
My  father  was  a  country  minister,  and  his  parish  lay  in  a 
lovely  region  of  country  west  of  the  Green  Mountains,  on  the 
high  road  from  the  Eastern  States  to  the  Springs.  Often  would 
ministers  drive  up  to  the  door  in  their  Yankee  gigs,  having 
previously  ascertained  by  inquiry  where  the  parish  pastor 
lived,  and  calling  to  us  boys  at  the  door,  would  say,  "  Does 

Mr. live  here  ?"     On  being  answered  in  the  affirmative, 

they  would  ask  again,  "  Does  he  keep  ministers'  tavern  V — 
that  is,  does  he  entertain  ministers  ^r  nothing?  And  being 
answered  in  the  same  way,  they  would  add,  "  Well,  take  my 
horse  and  give  him  four  quarts  of  oats  to-night,  and  don't 
water  him  till  he  gets  cool."'  With  these  laconic  intimations 
that  they  felt  quite  at  home,  they  would  walk  in  to  enjoy  the 
entertainment  kept  for  the  "  man,"  while  we  took  care  of  the 
"  beast." 

Now,  all  this  seemed  sufficiently  cool,  not  to  say  presuming, 
on  the  part  of  entire  strnnsiPrs ;  but  it  was  the  custom,  and   I 

24 


278  THE    AMERICAN    (.  LEEGY. 

guess  no  one  ever  went  away  without  an  invitation,  and  a 
atrojig  resolutio7i^  to  call  again,  if  he  ever  passed  that  way. 

But  about  the  angel.  He  was  not  travelling  to  the  Springs, 
but  was  an  angel  of  the  churches — a  messenger  sent  by  some 
one  of  the  benevolent  institutions  of  the  day  to  receive  the 
ahns  of  God's  people.  Some  called  him  a  beggar  ;  others,  an 
agent  :  I  have  called  him  an  angel,  which  title  he  deserved,  as 
the  sequel  will  show.  It  was  in  winter,  and  about  the  middle 
of  the  week,  when  he  arrived  :  we  had  sickness  in  the  family, 
and  he  came  to  stay  through  the  week,  and  over  tire  Sabbath  j 
and  would  it  have  been  strange  if  we  had  felt  that  his  room 
was  more  desirable  than  his  company,  under  such  circustances? 
Would  it  have  been  uncivil  or  unkind  to  have  told  him  that  it 
was  very  inconvenient  for  us  to  have  him  staying  at  our  house, 
and  we  would  prefer  to  quarter  him  among  the  people  ?  How- 
ever that  may  be,  we  preferred  to  keep  him,  and  make  him  as 
comfortable  as  we  could.  < 

He  stayed.  One  after  another  of  the  family  was  taken  sick  : 
the  parents  were  confined  to  bed ;  the  children  were  down ; 
the  help  gave  out  and  went  to  bed,  and  the  travelling' minister, 
the  stranger  who  had  turned  in  to  tarry  with  us,  was  the  only 
well  person  in  the  house.  And  what  did  he  do  ?  Did  he  call 
in  some  of  the  neighbours,  and  then  look  out  for  more  conve- 
nient quarters?  Not  at  all.  He  nursed  the  sick,  as  if  nursing 
was  his  business ;  he  went  to  the  barn  and  took  care  of  the 
"  cattle,"  as  if  he  had  been  brought  up  at  the  stable.  He  split 
and  brought  in  the  fuel,  as  if  he  had  lived  in  the  woods.  He 
was  at  hand  when  he  was  wanted,  and  out  of  the  way  when 
he  was  not.  He  W'as  active,  clever,  cheerful,  as .  much  at 
home  as  if  he  were  among  his  own  children,  and  not  with 
strangers  whom  he  had  never  seen  before,  and  whom  he  might 
never  see  again. 

He  stayed  over  the  Sabbath ;  preached  for  my  father,  who 
was  still  not  able  to  be  out ;  and  having  seen  us  in  a  good 


TRAVELLING    CLERGYMEN.  279 

degree  convalescent,  he  went  on  his  way  rejoicing.  His  name 
is  remembered  with  delight  by  the  members  of  that  household 
to  this  day,  though  many  years  have  since  fled,  and  that  family 
has  been  scattered  widely  ;  some  are  as  far  apart  as  earth  and 
heaven. 

Our  folks  always  kept  open  door  for  the  Lord's  ministers, 
and  they  never  had  reason  to  regret  it.  Some  of  us  have 
been  thrown  far  from  home  and  among  strangers,  and  some  of 
our  number  have  sickened  and  died  among  strangers,  and  the 
Lord  has  always  surrounded  them  with  kind  friends,  whose 
sympathy  has  proved  that  our  Father  in  Heaven  is  faithful  and 
true,  when  he  says,  "  Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  the 
'east  of  these,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me."  He  has  provided 
friends  for  us  among  strangers,  and  we  love  to  befriend 
strangers  at  our  gate. 

It  was  an  injunction  of  divine  wisdom  that  we  should  not 
be  forgetful  to  entertain  strangers,  for  some  had  thereby  en- 
tertained angels  unawares.  And  those  who  are  most  "given 
to  hospitality,"  find  real  enjoyment  in  obeying  this  precept. 

There  is  a  vast  difference  among  people  on  the  subject  of 
entertaining  strangers.  As  a  plain  country  minister,  I  have 
had  frequent  opportunities  of  making  comparisons,  and  the 
result  is  this  :— 

When  we  go  to  Presbytery  or  Synod,  or  to  a  religious  con- 
vention of  any  sort  in  some  places,  the  good  people  seem  to 
vie  with  each  other  in  seeing  who  will  most  freely  and  hand- 
somely entertain  the  strangers.  Every  house  is  open ;  every 
heart  is  warm ;  every  face  is  pleasant ;  and  while  we  stay  we 
are  treated  as  welcome  guests;  and  when  we  go,  it  is  with 
repeated  and  pressing  invitations  to  come  again,  and  never  to 
pass  through  the  place  without  favouring  the  family  with  a  call. 

On  the  other  hand,  I  have  sometimes  gone  to  other  places  on 
such  errands,  and  it  has  been  with  extreme  difficulty  that  we 
could  find  lodgings,  though  the  ability  of  Christians  to  enter- 


280  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

tain  strangers  far  exceeded  that  of  the  people  before  described. 
And  it  is  np  unusual  thing  for  ministers  who  have  been  invited 
by  public  notices  to  attend  religious  meetings  in  certain  places, 
with  the  assurance  that  entertainment  would  be  provided  for 
them,  to  find  on  their  arrival  that  they  must  seek  their  enter- 
tainment at  a  public  house,  and  pay  for  it  at  the  rate  of  one  or 
two  dollars  a  day.  Now,  if  ministers  render  themselves  so 
disagreeable  by  the  use  of  tobacco,  or  any  other  vile  practice, 
that  their  company  is  not  desired,  I  have  not  one  word  to  say. 
I  once  heard  a  minister  apologize  for  his  people's  reluctance  to 
accommodate  guests,  by  saying  that  "  angels  do  not  chew  to- 
bacco, and  therefore  they  were  sure  of  not  entertaining  angels 
when  they  asked  the  brethren  to  their  houses."  I  know  such 
men  are  a  great  annoyance  to  neat  housekeepers.  And  minis- 
ters who  desire  hospitality,  ought  to  abandon  those  habits  that 
render  their  society  unpleasant. 

But  this  objection  is  often  merely  an  excuse.  Hospitality  is 
a  Christian  duty,  and  those  who  would,  in  the  last  great  day, 
hear  the  Saviour  saying  unto  them,  "  I  was  a  stranger  and  ye 
took  me  in,"  must  love  to  entertain  Christ's  friends,  whether 
they  come  with  the  homely  garb  of  the  country,  or  the  polished 
exterior  of  city  life. 


REV.  DR.  ARMSTRONG. 


We  were  favoured  a  few  evenings  since,  say  the  editors  of 
one  of  our  periodicals,  with  the  presence  of  a  valued  friend, 
when  he  gave  us  the  following  story  of  the  late  lamented  Dr. 
Armstrong.     We  tell  it  in  our  friend's  words : — 

I  was,  some  twenty  years  since,  travelling  in  Virginia  by 
stasre.  We  were  not  far  from  the  James  River,  and  the  occu- 
pants  of  the  stage  were  Dr.  Armstrong,  two  Virginia  gentle- 


REV.    DR.    ARMSTRONG.  281 

men  of  the  regular  "  young  blood"  breed,  myself  and  sister. 
At  that  time  the  Doctor  was  pastor  of  a  church  in  Richmond, 
whither  the  stage  was  bound.  After  some  conversation,  I  asked 
him  who  was  the  owner  of  the  lands  upon  James  River.  He 
said  that  "  it  was  one  Wykoff,  a  lawyer,  who,  having  com- 
mitted some  misdemeanor  in  New  York,  had  gone  to  the 
South  to  save  his  reputation."  At  this,  one  of  the  southern 
young  men  very  coolly  spit  in  his  face.  He  turned  to  me,  look- 
ing as  much  as  to  say,  "  IsnH  he  crazy?'*'*  In  a  moment  the  fel- 
low spit  again  in  his  face,  but  the  good  man  was  not  in  the  least 
agitated.  "  He  who  will  not  resent  an  injury  should  be  kicked 
out  of  the  stage,"  said  the  ruffian.  Dr.  Armstrong  asked  him, 
if  he  had  in  any  way  ever  injured  him.  "Yes,"  said  he,  "  you 
have  slandered  my  father  !"  The  mystery  was  at  once  solved 
— WykofF,  of  whom  he  had  been  speaking,  was  his  father.  Mr. 
Armstrong  told  him  he  was  very  sorry,  indeed,  he  had  offended 
him,  and  made  all  the  reparation  in  his  power,  but  the  fellow 
insisted  that  he  should  get  out  and  ^ght  it  out.  He  told  him 
No — he  never  fought — it  was  against  his  principles  to  fight. 
My  sister  was  frightened  extremely,  as  he  had  a  bowie-knife 
with  him,  and  we  feared  the  consequences.  At  every  tavern 
he  would  get  out  and  drink,  and  then  commence  his  vile  lan- 
guage towards  Dr.  Armstrong.  A  single  word  of  retort  from 
him  would  undoubtedly  have  ended  his  life.  But  he  was  very 
calm  and  mild.  At  length  the  scoundrel's  companion  told  him 
he  ought  to  be  satisfied,  and  when  we  were  near  Richmond  he 
concluded  to  be  so.  Dr.  Armstrong  saved  his  life  that  time 
by  being  a  peace-maker." 


24* 


282  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


A  YOUNG  MINISTER  IN  THE  WEST. 

Solomon  recommends  us  sometimes  to  "  answer  a  fool  ac- 
cording to  his  folly,  lest  he  be  wise  in  his  own  conceit."  The 
principles  laid  down  by  infidels  are  often,  when  properly  ap- 
plied, made  to  appear  supremely  ridiculous.  Let  us  illustrate 
this  sentiment : — 

Near  the  Alleghany  mountains,  an  infidel  judge  was  sitting 
with  a  circle  of  his  friends,  ridiculing  the  account  of  the  cre- 
ation of  man  as  given  in  the  Bible,  and  asserting  that  we  came 
into  existence  by  chance.  "  Perhaps,"  said  he,  "  some  of  us 
existed  a  while  in  less  perfect  organizations,  and  at  length,  as 
nature  is  always  tending  towards  perfection,  we  became  men, 
and  others  sprang  into  life  in  other  ways  ;  and  if  we  could 
find  a  rich  country  now,  which  had  not  been  injured  by  the 
hand  of  man,  I  have  no  doubt  that  we  should  see  them  pro- 
duced from  the  trees."  Being  fluent,  self-confident,  and,  in 
most  respects,  superior  to  his  audience,  he  made  his  doctrines 
appear  very  plausible,  and  asked  this  and  that  person  of  the 
company  of  their  thoughts  upon  his  statements.  All  answered 
favourable  to  his  views,  till  he  proposed  his  inquiry  to  a 
youthful  stranger,  who  sat  silent  in  a  quiet  corner.  He  replied, 
"Sir,  I  have  no  doubt  at  all  upon  the  subject,  for  I  have  tra- 
velled in  the  richest  part  of  Texas,  where  I  saw  the  forest  in 
its  native  perfection,  unsullied  by  the  hand  of  man,  and  there 
1  have  seen  large  hogs  growing  upon  the  trees.  The  nose  is 
the  end  of  the  stem,  as  you  see  by  its  form ;  and,  when  ripe, 
I  have  seen  them  fall,  and  proceed  directly  to  eating  the  acoins 
that  grew  upon  the  same  tree."  This  simple  illustration  of  his 
principles,  turned  the  laugh  upon  the  judge,  and  was  sufficient 
to  counteract  the  evils  he  intended. 


A    COLOURED    PREACHER.  283 


A  COLOURED  PREACHER. 

Jack  is  a  Methodist  local  preacher.  In  one  of  his  sermons 
he  told  this  story :  When  I  was  a  lad,  there  were  no  religious 
people  where  I  lived.  But  I  had  a  young  master  about  my 
age,  who  was  going  to  school ;  and  he  was  very  fond  of  me. 
At  night,  he  would  come  into  the  kitchen  to  teach  me  the  les- 
son he  had  learned  himself  during  the  day  at  school.  In  this 
way  I  learned  to  read. 

When  I  was  well  nigh  grown  up,  said  Jack,  we  took  up  the 
New  Testament,  and  agreed  to  read  it  verse  by  verse.  When 
one  would  make  a  mistake,  the  other  was  to  correct  him,  so 
that  we  could  learn  to  read  well. 

In  a  short  time,  we  both  felt  that  we  were  sinners  before 
God,  and  we  both  agreed  to  seek  the  salvation  of  our  souls. 
The  Lord  heard  our  prayer,  and  gave  us  both  a  hope  in  Christ. 
Then  I  began  to  hold  meetings  for  prayer  and  exhortation 
among  the  coloured  people. 

My  old  master  soon  found  out  what  was  going  on.  He  was 
very  angry,  especially  because  his  son  had  become  pious.  He 
forbade  my  holding  any  more  meetings,  saying,  that  if  I  did, 
he  would  whip  me  severely  for  it. 

From  that  time,  I  continued  to  preach  or  exhort  on  Sabbath 
nights  ;  and  on  Monday  morning  my  old  master  would  tie  me 
up,  and  cut  my  back  to  pieces  with  a  cowhide,  so  that  it  had 
never  time  to  get  well.  I  was  obliged  to  do  my  work  in  a 
great  deal  of  pain  from  day  to  day. 

Thus  I  lived  near  a  year  and  a  half. — One  Monday  morn- 
ing my  master,  as  usual,  had  made  my  fellow-slaves  tie  me  to 
a  shade  tree  in  the  yard,  after  stripping  my  back  naked  to  re- 
ceive the  cowhide.  It  was  a  beautiful  morning  in  the  summer 
time,  and  the  sun  shone  very  bright.  Every  thing  around 
looked  very  pleasant.     He  came  up  to  me  with  cool  delibera- 


284  THE    AMERICAN    CLEKGY. 

tion,  look  his  stand,  and  looked  at  me  closely,  but  the  cow. 
hide  hung  still  at  his  side.  His  conscience  was  at  work,  and 
it  was  a  great  moment  in  his  life. 

"Well,  Jack,"  said  he,  "  your  back  is  covered  all  over  with 
scars  and  sores,  and  I  see  no  place  to  begin  to  whip.  You 
obstinate  wretch,  how  long  do  you  intend  to  go  on  in  this  way?" 

"Why,  master,  just  as  long  as  the  Lord  will  let  me  live," 
was  my  reply." 

"  Well,  what  is  your  design  in  it  ?" 

"  Why,  master,  in  the  morning  of  the  resurrection,  when  my 
poor  body  shall  rise  from  the  grave,  I  intend  to  show  these 
scars  to  my  heavenly  Father,  as  so  many  witnesses  of  my 
faithfulness  in  his  cause."  He  ordered  them  to  untie  me,  and 
sent  me  to  hoe  corn  in  the  field.  Late  in  the  evening  he  came 
along,  pulling  a  weed  here,  and  a  weed  there,  till  he  got  to  me, 
and  then  told  me  to  sit  down. 

"Jack,"  said  he,  "I  want  you  to  tell  me  the  truth.  You  know 
that  for  a  long  time  your  back  has  been  sore  from  the  cow- 
hide ;  you  have  had  to  work  very  hard,  and  are  a  poor  slave. 
Now,  tell  me,  are  you  happy  or  not,  under  such  troubles  as 
these?" 

*  Yes,  master,  I  believe  I  am  as  happy  a  man  as  there  is 
on  earth." 

"Well,  Jack,"  said  he,  "  I  am  not  happy. — Religion,  you 
say,  teaches  you  to  pray  for  those  that  injure  you.  Now,  will 
you  pray  for  your  old  master,  Jack  ?" 

"  Yes,  with  all  my  heart,"  said  I. 

We  kneeled  down,  and  I  prayed  for  him.  He  came  again 
and  again  to  me.  I  prayed  for  him  in  the  field,  till  he  found 
peace  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  After  this,  we  lived  together 
like  brothers,  in  the  same  church.  On  his  death-bed  he  gave 
me  my  liberty,  and  told  me  to  go  on  preaching  as  long  as  I 
lived,  and  meet  him  at  last  in  heaven. 

I  have  seen,  said  Jack,  many  Christians  whom  I  loved^  but 


REV.    MR.    MOODY.  285 

I  have  never  seen  any  I  loved  so  well  as  my  old  master.     I 
hope  I  shall  meet  him  in  heaven. 


REV.  MR.  MOODY. 


"  Come,  Charles,  my  son,"  said  Deacon  Allsworthy,  "  take 
one  of  these  turkeys,  and  carry  it  up  to  Minister  Moody,  for 
Thanksgiving." 

"  No,  father,  I  don't  do  that  again,  I  tell  you." 

"What  do  I  hear  now,  Charles  ?  These  five-and-twenty 
years  I  have  sent  the  minister  a  turkey,  and  Joe  has  carried 
them,  and  Tom,  and  Jerry,  and  you — without  ever  refusing 
before.     What's  the  matter  now?" 

"Why,  father,  he  never  thanks  me  for  bringing  it  to  him  ; 
besides,  he  took  me  to  task  a  while  ago,  because  I  started  out 
of  meeting  too  soon." 

"Well,  son,  you  know  it  is  the  custom  for  the  minister  to  go 
*)ut  before  any  of  the  congregation  starts ;  this  is  done  as  a 
mark  of  respect." 

"  Respect  or  rot,  he's  nothing  but  a  man,  and  as  for  creep- 
ing for  him,  I  won't  do  it." 

"Well,  let  it  all  pass,  and  carry  him  the  turkey ;  and  if  he 
don't  thank  you  for  it,  I  will." 

Charles  shouldered  the  fowl,  and  in  a  short  time  was  at  the 
house  of  the  minister,  who  was  seated  in  the  parlour,  sur- 
rounded by  a  number  of  friends  who  had  come  to  pass  Thanks- 
frivins  with  him.  The  lad  entered  without  knockini]^,  and 
bringing  the  turkey  from  his  shoulders  heavily  upon  the  table, 
said,  "  Mr.  Moody,  there's  a  turkey  for  you ;  if  you  want  it, 
you  may  have  it ;  if  you  don't,  I'll  carry  it  back  again." 

"  I  shall  be  very  glad  of  it,"  said  the  minister,  "  but  I  think 


286  THE  AMERICAN  CLERGY. 

you  might  learn  a  little  manners,  Charles.  Can't  you  do  an 
errand  better?" 

"  How  would  you  have  me  do  it  ?"  said  Charles. 

"Sit  down  in  my  chair,"  said  the  clergyman,  "and  I  will 
show  you." 

Charles  took  the  chair,  while  the  divine  took  the  turkey  and 
left  the  room.  He  soon  returned — took  off  his  hat — made  a 
very  low  bow,  and  said,  "  Mr.  Moody,  here  is  a  turkey  which 
my  father  sen  s  you,  and  wishes  you  to  accept  as  a  present." 

Charles  rose  from  his  seat  and  took  the  fowl,  and  said  to 
the  minister,  "  It  is  a  very  fine  one,  and  I  feel  very  grateful 
to  your  father  for  it.  In  this  and  numerous  and  other  instances 
he  has  contributed  to  my  happiness.  If  you  will  just  carry 
it  into  the  kitchen,  and  return  again,  I  will  send  for  Mrs.  Moo- 
dy to  give  you  half  a  dollar." 

The  good  old  clergyman  walked  out  of  the  room — his  friends 
laughed  at  the  joke,  and  made  up  a  purse  for  the  lad,  who  ever 
afterwards  received  a  reward  for  his  services. 


AN  UNSUCCESSFUL  MINISTER. 

A  WORTHY  minister  of  the  gospel  was  the  pastor  of  a  flou- 
rishing church.  He  had  been  a  popular  preacher,  but  gradu- 
ally became  less  acceptable  to  his  hearers,  and  his  congrega- 
tion very  much  decreased.  This  was  solely  attributed  to  the 
minister;  and  matters  continuing  to  get  worse  and  worse,  some 
of  his  hearers  resolved  to  speak  with  him  on  the  subject.  A 
deputation  was  accordingly  appointed  to  wait  upon  him  for 
that  purpose.  They  did  so;  and  when  the  good  man  had 
heard  their  complaints,  he  replied,  "  I  am  quite  sensible  of  all 
you  say,  for  I  feel  it  to  be  true ;  and  the  reason  of  it  is,  that  I 


REV.    THOMAS    BROWN.  287 

have  lost  my  prayer  book."  They  looked  quite  astonished  at 
hearing  this,  but  he  proceeded :  "  Once  my  preaching  was  ac- 
ceptable, and  many  were  edified  by  it,  and  numbers  were  added 
to  the  church,  which  was  then  in  a  prosperous  state.  But  we 
were  then  a  praying  people.  There  were  many  who  joined 
together  in  fervent  prayer  that  my  preaching  might  be  blest 
for  the  conversion  of  sinners,  and  for  building  up  the  saints  in 
their  most  holy  faith.  It  was  this,  by  the  blessing  of  God, 
that  made  us  prosper.  But  as  prayer  began  to  be  restrained, 
my  preaching  became  less  acceptable,  the  church  declined,  and 
things  became  as  they  now  are.  But  let  us  have  recourse  to 
the  same  means,  and  the  same  effects  may  be  expected  to  fol- 
low." They  took  the  hint.  Social  prayer  was  again  punc- 
tually attended  to,  and  exertions  made  to  induce  those  who 
were  without  to  attend  the  preaching  of  the  word.  The  result 
was,  that  the  minister  became  as  popular,  and  the  church  as 
flourishing  as  ever. 


REV.  THOMAS  BROWN. 


While  the  late  Rev.  Thomas  Brown  was  minister  at  the 
Scotch  Plains,  New  Jersey,  and  while  he  was  yet  a  young 
man,  he  went  from  Perth  Amboy  to  fulfil  a  preaching  appoint- 
ment somewhere  in  the  neighbourhood  of  South  Amboy,  on 
the  other  side  of  the  Raritan  river.  He  had  crossed  it  in  a 
small  ferry-boat,  worked  by  oars.  The  mouth  of  that  river, 
in  the  channel,  was  sometimes  very  dangerous,  and,  for  such 
craft,  unnavigable ;  especially  so,  when  the  wind  set  down  the 
river,  or  the  reverse,  and  met  the  tide. 

On  the  occasion  referred  to,  the  wind  was  boisterous  and 
the  waves  were  high.  In  the  little  boat  was  a  number  of 
young  persons ;  and  one,  in  whom  the  voyager  felt  a  special 


288  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

interest,  and  who  may  yet  remember  the  day.  There  was 
also  another,  then  a  child,  and  who,  some  years  subsequently, 
related  the  fact.  The  wind  blew,  and  the  waves  tossed  about 
at  pleasure  the  tiny  vessel.  The  danger  seemed  great,  and 
the  alarm  and  terror  of  the  passengers  were  great  also.  All 
must  be  lost !  In  the  midst  of  the  cry  of  distress,  Mr.  B. 
broke  out,  with  his  strong  musical  voice,  to  the  good  old  tune 
of  Shirland : — 

"The  God  that  rules  on  high, 

And  thunders  when  he  please ; 
That  rides  upon  the  stormy  sky, 

And  manages  the  seas  ; 
This  awful  God  is  ours, 

Our  Father  and  our  love ; 
He  shall  send  down  his  heavenly  powers, 

To  carry  us  above." 

All  were  hushed,  and  "  there  was  a  great  calm"  in  their 
feelings.  And  with  the  vigorous  strokes  of  the  oarsmen,  the 
boat  was  safely  brought  to  the  welcome  beach,  and  all  gladly 
stepped  on  terra  fir  ma. 


"  What,"  once  inquired  this  shrewd  and  venerable  man,  of 
a  Scotch  acquaintance  with  whom  he  sometimes  reasoned — 
"  what  would  satisfy  you,  sir,  of  the  proper  divinity  of  Jesus 
Christ?" 

"  Why,"  replied  the  gentleman,  "  if  the  Bible  expressly  de- 
clared that  Jesus  Christ  is  God — " 

"  Then,"  said  my  friend  B.,  "  the  Bible  says  expressly  that 
Jesus  Christ  is  the  true  God,  and  eternal  life."  1  John  v.  20. 
No  more  was  said. 


AN    AFRICAN    PREACUEK.  ^89 


AN  AFRICAN  PREACHER. 


A  RESPECTABLE  man,  who  had  become  interested  on  the 
subject  of  religion,  and  who  had  begun  with  some  earnestness 
to  search  the  Scriptures,  had  read  but  a  few  chapters,  when  he 
became  greatly  perplexed  with  some  of  those  passages  which 
an  inspired  apostle  has  declared  to  be  "  hard  to  be  understood." 
In  this  state  of  mind,  he  repaired  to  a  coloured  preacher  for 
instruction  and  help,  and  found  him,  at  noon,  on  a  sultry  day 
in  summer,  laboriously  engaged  hoeing  his  corn.  As  the  man 
approached,  the  preacher,  with  patriarchal  simplicity,  leaned 
upon  his  hoe,  and  listened  to  his  story.  "Uncle  Jack,"  said 
he,  "  I  have  discovered  lately  that  I  am  a  great  sinner ;  and  I 
commenced  reading  the  Bible,  that  I  may  learn  what  I  must 
do  to  be  saved.  But  1  have  met  with  a  passage  here,"  holding 
up  his  Bible,  "  which  I  know  not  what  to  do  with.  It  is  this : 
'  God  will  have  mercy  upon  whom  he  will  have  mercy,  and 
whom  he  will  he  hardeneth.'  What  does  this  mean?"  A  short 
pause  intervened,  and  the  old  African  replied  as  follows : 
*'  Master,  if  I  have  been  rightly  informed,  it  has  been  but  a 
day  or  two  since  you  began  to  read  the  Bible,  and,  if  I  re- 
member rightly,  that  passage  you  have  mentioned  is  away 
yonder  in  Romans.  Long  before  you  get  to  that,  at  the  very 
beginning  of  the  gospel,  it  is  said,  '  Repent,  for  the  kingdom 
cf  heaven  is  at  hand.'  Now,  have  you  done  that  ?  The  truth 
is,  you  have  read  entirely  too  fast.  You  must  begin  again, 
and  take  things  as  God  has  been  pleased  to  place  them.  When 
you  have  done  all  that  you  are  told  to  do  in  Matthew,  come 
and  talk  about  Romans." 

Having  thus  answered,  the  old  preacher  resumed  his  work, 
and  left  the  man  to  his  own  reflections.  Who  does  not  admire 
the  simplicity  and  good  sense  which  characterized  this  reply  ? 
Could  the  most  learned  polemic  more  efTertually  liave  met  and 

25 


~00  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

disposed  of  such  a  difficulty  ?  The  gentleman  particularly  in- 
terested in  this  incident,  gave  an  account  of  it  with  his  own 
lips ;  and  said,  "  It  convinced  me  most  fully  of  the  mistake 
into  which  I  had  fallen.  I  took  the  old  man's  advice ;  I  soon 
saw  its  propriety  and  wisdom,  and  hope  to  bless  God  for  ever 
for  sending  me  to  him." 


REV.  DR.  STAUGHTON. 


When  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Staughton  resided  at  Bordentown, 
he  was  one  day  sitting  at  his  door,  when  the  infidel  Thomas 
Paine,  who  also  resided  there,  addressed  him  and  said,  "  Mr. 
Staughton,  what  a  pity  it  is  that  man  has  not  some  comprehen- 
sive and  perfect  rule  for  the  government  of  his  life."  Mr.  S. 
replied,  "  Mr.  Paine,  there  is  such  a  rule."  "What  is  that?" 
asked  Paine.  Mr.  Staughton  repeated  the  passage,  "  Thou 
shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  with  all  thy 
mind,  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  strength  ;  and  thy 
neighbour  as  thyself."  "  Oh,"  said  Paine,  "  that's  in  your 
Bible,"  and  immediately  walked  away. 


A  PRESBYTERIAN  CLERGYMAN. 

Some  time  ago,  a  well-known  minister  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  delivered  a  series  of  discourses  against  infidelity,  in  a 
town  on  the  Red  river,  in  Louisiana ;  many  of  the  citizens  of 
which  were  known  to  be  skeptical.  A  few  days  afterwards,  ho 
took  passage  in  a  steamer  ascending  the  Mississippi  river,  and 
found  on  board  several  of  his  neighbours,  amonji  whom  was  a 


A    PRESBYTERIAN    CLERGYMAN.  291 

disciple  of  Paine,  distinguished  as  a  ringleader  of  a  band  of 
infidels.  He  soon  commenced  the  utterance  of  horrid  blas- 
phemies ;  and,  seeing  the  clergyman  reading  at  a  table,  he 
asked  his  companions  to  go  with  him  to  the  other  side  of  the 
table,  to  listen  to  tales  which  should  annoy  the  preacher. 
Many,  influenced  by  curiosity,  gathered  round  him  and  heard 
his  vulgar  anecdotes,  pointed  against  the  Bible  and  its  minis- 
ters. The  preacher  did  not  raise  his  eyes  from  the  book  he 
was  reading,  nor  appear  at  all  disconcerted  by  the  presence  of 
ihe  rabble.  At  length,  the  infidel  walked  up  to  him,  and 
rudely  slapping  him  on  the  shoulder,  said,  "  Old  fellow,  what 
Jo  you  think  of  these  things  ?"  He  calmly  pointed  out  of  the 
door  and  said,  "  Do  you  see  that  beautiful  landscape  spread 
out  in  such  quiet  loveliness  before  you  ?"  "  Yes."  "  It  has  a 
rich  variety  of  flowers,  plants,  and  shrubs,  that  are  adapted  to 
fill  the  beholder  with  delight."  "  Yes."  «  Well,  if  you  were 
to  send  out  a  dove,  he  would  pass  over  that  scene,  and  see  in 
it  all  that  was  beautiful  and  lovely,  and  delight  himself  in 
gazing  at  and  admiring  it ;  but  if  you  were  to  send  out  a  buz- 
zard over  precisely  the  same  scene,  he  would  see  in  it  nothing 
to  fix  his  attention,  unless  he  could  find  some  rotten  carcase 
that  would  be  loathsome  to  all  other  animals.  He  would  de- 
light and  gloat  upon  that  with  exquisite  pleasure."  "  Do  you 
mean  to  compare  me  to  a  buzzard,  sir?"  asked  the  infidel, 
colouring  very  deeply.  "  I  made  no  allusion  to  you,  sir,"  said 
the  minister,  very  quietly.  The  infidel  walked  away  in  con 
fusion,  and  was  called  "  the  Buzzard"  during  the  remaining 
part  of  the  passage. 


392  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


A  DELIGHTED  MINISTER. 


In  a  certain  place,  they  engaged  a  professed  infidel  to  in- 
struct a  reading-school.  The  scholars,  when  thev  came  to^e- 
ther  one  afternoon,  were  not  able  to  read.  The  teacher,  after 
several  vain  attempts  to  make  them  proceed  as  usual,  sent  one 
of  his  scholars  to  the  neighbouring  house  of  a  Christian  pro 
fessor,  to  request  him  to  come  into  the  school.  It  so  came  to 
pass,  that  the  minister  of  the  place  was  also  at  this  house,  and 
also  went  with  the  other  to  the  school. "  As  an  awakening  had 
begun  in  the  town,  the  minister  had  little  doubt  what  was  the 
matter.  When  he  came  in,  and  saw  the  solemn  appearance,  he 
first  said  to  the  teacher,  "  Sir,  what  is  the  matter  with  your 
scholars'/"  He  replied,  "  I  do  not  know."  Said  the  minister. 
"  Have  you  not  been  correcting  them  V-  The  master  answered, 
"  No,  we  have  had  no  disturbance."  "  Well,"  said  the  minis- 
ter, "  what  then  can  be  the  matter?"  "  I  cannot  tell,"  replied 
the  master.  "  But  you  must  have  some  opinion  about  it ;  tell 
me  what  you  think  it  is."  Not  able  to  endure  any  longer, 
the  poor  deist  burst  into  tears,  and  said,  "  I  believe  it  is  the 
Spirit  of  God  ;"  and,  in  a  short  time,  the  teacher  and  fifteen 
of  the  scholars  became  apparent  believers. 


A  WISE  PASTOR. 


A  MEMBER  of  a  Christian  church,  feeling  himself  much 
aggrieved  in  a  transaction  with  a  Christian  brother,  determined 
upon  having  revena;e.  Conscience  remonstrated;  reminded 
him  of  his  vows,  his  relation  to  the  offender ;  that  they  were 
members  of  Christ,  and  that  it  was  displeasing  to  God.  But 
no — the  evil  rankled  in  his  breast;  revenge  he  would  have. 


A   CLERGYMAN    IN    VIRGINIA.  293 

How  to  accomplish  his  purpose  he  knew  not.  With  these 
feelings,  he  went  to  his  pastor  to  obtain  Jiis  assistance.  His 
pastor  reasoned  with  and  tried  to  dissuade  him.  Failing  in 
this,  he  finally  said,  "  I  know  of  but  one  kind  of  revenge 
allowed  by  the  Scriptures,  viz.;  '  If  thine  enemy  hunger,  feed 
him;  if  he  thirst,  give  him  drink:  by  so  doing,  thou  shalt 
heap  coals  of  fire  upon  his  head.' "  With  joy  beaming  in  his 
countenance,  the  good  man,  clapping  his  hands,  exclaimed, 
'-^ni  hum  him!  Til  hum  him V  Would  it  not  be  well  if 
there  were  more  such  burnin'o:  in  the  world  ?  How  easv  would 
it  be  to  melt  down  the  hearts  of  thousands  into  love  and  ten- 
derness ! 


A  CLERGYMAN  IN  VIRGINIA. 


A  HIGHLY  respectable  clergyman  in  Virginia,  some  time 
since,  gave  a  very  interesting  account  of  a  soul-thrilling  scene 
in  which  he  was  one  of  the  parties  concerned.  He  was  preach- 
ing to  a  large  and  attentive  audience,  when  his  attention  was 
arrested  by  seeing  a  man  enter,  having  every  mark  and  linea- 
ment of  a  Jew.  He  was  well  dressed,  his  countenance  was 
noble,  and  he  thought  it  was  evident  that  his  heart  had  lately 
been  the  habitation  of  sorrow.  He  t(5ok  his  seat,  and  was  all 
attention,  while  an  unconscious  tear  was  often  seen  to  wet  his 
manly  cheek.  After  service,  the  clergyman  fixed  his  eye 
steadily  upon  him,  and  the  stranger  reciprocated  the  look.  The 
minister  went  to  him,  and  said,  "  Sir,  am  I  correct,  am  I  not  ad- 
dressing one  of  the  children  of  Abraham?"  "You  are."  "  But 
how  is  it  that  I  meet  a  Jew  in  a  Christian  assembly  ?"  The  sub- 
stance of  his  narrative  was  as  follows : — He  was  a  very  respecta- 
ble man,  of  a  superior  education,  who  had  lately  come  from  Lon- 
don ;  and  with  his  books,  his  wealth,  and  a  lovely  daughter  of 


294  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

seventeen,  had  found  a  charming  retreat  on  the  lovely  banks 
of  the  Ohio.  He  had  buried  the  wife  of  his  bosom  before  he 
left  Europe,  and  he  now  knew  no  pleasure  but  the  company  of 
his  endeared  daughter.  She  was  indeed  worthy  of  a  parent's 
love.  She  was  surrounded  by  beauty  as  a  mantle;  but  her 
cultivated  mind,  and  her  amiable  disposition,  threw  around  her 
a  charm  superior  to  any  one  or  all  of  the  decorations  of  her 
body.  No  pains  had  been  spared  on  her  education.  She 
could  read  and  speak  with  fluency  several  languages;  and  her 
manners  charmed  all  who  saw  her.  No  wonder  then  that  a 
doating  father,  whose  head  had  now  become  sprinkled  with 
gray,  should  place  his  whole  affections  on  this  only  child  of  his 
love,  especially  as  he  knew  no  source  of  happiness  beyond  this 
world.  Being  a  strict  Jew,  he  educated  her  in  the  principles 
of  that  religion ;  and  he  thought  that  he  had  presented  it  with 
an  ornament. 

It  was  not  long  asjo  that  his  daughter  was  taken  sick.  The 
rose  faded  from  her  cheek,  her  eye  lost  its  fire,  and  it  was 
soon  apparent  that  the  worm  of  disease  was  rioting  in  the  core 
of  her  vitals.  The  father  hung  over  the  bed  of  his  daughter 
with  a  heart  ready  to  burst  with  anguish.  He  often  attempted 
to  converse  with  her,  but  seldom  spoke  except  in  the  language 
of  tears.  He  spared  no  trouble  or  expense  in  obtaining  medi- 
cal assistance,  but  no  human  skill  could  extract  the  arrow  of 
death  now  fixed  in  her  heart.  The  father  was  walking  in  a 
small  grove  near  his  house,  in  great  distress  of  mind,  when  he 
was  sent  for  by  his  dying  daughter.  With  a  heavy  heart  he 
entered  the  door  of  the  chamber,  which  he  feared  would  soon 
be  the  entrance  of  death.  He  was  now  to  take  a  last  farewell 
of  his  child,  and  his  religion  gave  him  but  a  feeble  hope  of 
meeting  her  hereafter. 

The  daughter  grasped  the  hand  of  her  father  with  a  death- 
cold  hand  :  "  My  father,  do  you  love  me?"  "  My  child,  you 
know  I  love  you — that  you  are  more  dear  to  me  than  the  whole 


A    CLERGYMAN    IN    VIRGINIA.  295 

world  besides!"  " But,  father,  do  you  love  me ?"  "Why,  my 
child,  will  you  give  me  pain  so  exquisite?  Have  I  never 
given  you  any  proofs  of  my  love  V  "  But,  my  dearest  father, 
DO  vou  love  me  ?"  The  father  could  not  answer :  the 
daughter  added,  "  I  know,  my  dear  father,  you  have  ever 
loved  me — you  have  been  the  kindest  of  parents,  and  I  tenderly 
love  you.  Will  you  grant  me  one  request  ? — 0,  my  father,  it 
is  the  dying  request  of  your  daughter — will  you  grant  it  V 
"  My  dearest  child,  ask  what  you  will,  though  it  take  every 
cent  of  my  property,  it  shall  be  granted.  I  will  grant  it." 
"My  dear  father,  /  6eg  you  Tiever  again  to  speak  against 
Jesus  of  Nazareth  /"  The  father  was  dumb  with  astonish- 
ment. "  I  know,"  continued  the  dying  girl,  "  J  know  but  little 
about  this  Jesus,  for  I  was  never  taught.  But  I  know  that  he 
is  a  Saviour,  for  he  has  manifested  himself  to  me  since  I  have 
been  sick,  even  for  the  salvation  of  my  soul.  I  believe  that 
he  will  save  me,  even  though  I  have  never  before  loved  him. 
I  feel  that  I  am  going  to  him — and  that  I  shall  be  ever  with 
him.  And  now,  my  dear  father,  do  not  deny  me  ;  I  beg  that 
you  wiU  never  again  speak  against  this  Jesus  of  Nazareth  ! 
I  entreat  you  to  obtain  a  Testament  that  tells  of  him  ;  and 
when  I  am  no  more,  you  may  bestow  on  him  the  love  which 
was  formerly  mine !" 

The  exertion  here  overcame  the  weakness  of  her  feeble 
body.  She  stopped  ;  and  her  father's  heart  was  too  full  even 
for  tears.  He  left  the  room  in  great  horror  of  mind  :  and  ere 
he  could  again  summon  sufficient  fortitude  to  return  to  her, 
the  spirit  of  his  beloved  daughter  had  taken  its  flight,  as  we  trust, 
to  the  Saviour  whom  she  loved  and  honoured,  though  she  had 
not  seen  him.  The  first  thing  her  father  did,  after  committing 
to  the  earth  his  last  worldly  joy,  was  to  procure  a  New  Testa- 
ment. This  he  r^d,  and,  taught  by  the  Spirit  from  above,  he 
became  numbered  with  the  meek  and  humble  followers  of  the 
Lamb. 


!96  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


REV.  DR.  NETTLETON. 


A  Christian  ministeK^can  possess  no  talent  more  enviable 
than  that  of  skill  in  stopping  the  mouths  of  gainsayers,  and 
in  speaking  a  word  in  season  to  all  with  whom  he  may  meet. 
This  talent  Dr.  N.  possessed  in  a  very  high  degree. 

Being  accosted  by  a  Universalist,  who  wished  to  engage  in 
a  discussion  on  the  doctrine  of  eternal  punishment,  he  replied, 
"  I  will  not  enter  into  any  dispute  with  you  at  present ;  but  I 
should  be  pleased  to  have  you  state  to  me  your  views,  that  I 
may  have  them  to  think  of."  The  man  accordingly  informed 
him,  that  in  his  opinion  mankind  received  all  their  punishment 
in  this  life,  and  that  all  would  be  happy  after  death.  Dr.  Net- 
tleton  then  asked  him  to  explain  certain  passages  of  Scripture, 
such  as  the  account  of  the  judgment  in  the  twenty-fifth  of 
Matthew,  and  some  others ;  merely  suggesting  difficulties  for 
him  to  solve,  without  calling  in  question  any  of  his  positions. 
After  taxing  his  ingenuity  for  some  time  in  this  way,  and  thus 
giving  him  opportunity  to  perceive  the  difficulty  of  reconciling 
his  doctrine  with  the  language  of  inspiration ;  he  said  to  him, 
"You  believe,  I  presume,  the  account  given  by  Moses  of  the 
deluge,  and  of  the  destruction  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah?" 
"  Certainly,"  he  replied.  "  It  seems,  then,"  said  Dr.  N.,  "  that 
the  world  became  exceedingly  corrupt,  and  God  determined  to 
destroy  it  by  a  deluge  of  water.  He  revealed  his  purpose  to 
Noah,  and  directed  him  to  prepare  an  ark  in  which  he  and  his 
family  might  be  saved.  Noah  believed  God,  and  prepared  the 
ark.  Meanwhile  he  was  a  preacher  of  righteousness.  He 
vv'arned  the  wicked  around  him  of  their  danger,  and  exhorted 
them  to  prepare  to  meet  their  God.  But  his  warnings  were 
disregarded.  They,  doubtless,  flattered  themselves  that  God 
was  too  good  a  being  thus  to  destroy  his  creatures.  But  not- 
withstanding their  unbelief,  the  flood  came,  and,  if  your  doc- 


REV.  DR.  NETTLETON.  297 

trine  is  true,  swept  them  all  up  to  heaven.  And  what  became 
of  Noah,  that  faithful  servant  of  God  ?  He  was  tossed  to  and 
fro  on  the  waters,  and  was  doomed  to  trials  and  sufferings  for 
three  hundred  and  fifty  years  longer  in  this  evil  world  ; 
whereas,  if  he  had  been  wicked  enough,  he  might  have  gone 
to  heaven  with  the  rest. 

"  And  there  were  the  cities  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  which 
had  become  so  corrupt,  that  God  determined  to  destroy  them 
by  a  tempest  of  fire.  He  revealed  his  purpose  to  Lot,  and 
directed  him  and  his  family  to  make  their  escape.  'And  Lot 
went  out,  and  spake  to  his  sons-in-law,  saying.  Up,  get  ye  out 
of  this  place,  for  the  Lord  will  destroy  this  city.  But  he 
seemed  as  one  that  mocked  to  his  sons-in-law.'  They  did  not 
believe  that  any  such  doom  was  impending.  They  doubtless 
flattered  themselves  that  God  was  too  good  a  being  to  burn  up 
his  creatures.  But  no  sooner  had  Lot  made  his  escape,  than 
it  rained  fire  and  brimstone  from  the  Lord  out  of  heaven,  and 
they  all,  it  seems,  ascended  to  heaven  in  a  chariot  of  fire ; 
while  pious  Lot  was  left  to  wander  in  the  mountains,  and  to 
suffer  many  grievous  afflictions  in  this  vale  of  tears ;  whereas, 
•f  he  had  been  wicked  enough,  he  might  have  gone  to  heaven 
with  the  rest."  After  making  this  statement,  he  requested  the 
man  to  reflect  on  these  things,  and  bade  him  an  affectionate 
farewell. 


Dr.  Nettleton  was  once  attacked  by  a  restorationist,  who 
quoted,  in  support  of  his  doctrine,  the  words  of  the  apostle 
Peter :  "  By  which  also  he  went  and  preached  to  the  spirits  in 
prison."  Dr.  N.  observed  to  him  that  the  time  was  spccifipd 
in  the  next  verse,  when  Christ  preached  to  these  spirits  in 
prison.  It  was,  "  when  once  the  long-suffering  of  God  waited 
in  the  days  of  Noah."  It  was  by  his  Spirit  which  dwelt  in 
Noah,  that  he  preached  to  those  who  are  now  spirits  in  prison. 


298  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

"  No,"  said  the  man,  "  that  cannot  be  the  meaning  of  the  pas- 
sage. The  meaning  is,  that  Christ,  after  his  crucifixion,  went 
down  to  hell,  and  preached  to  the  spirits  in  prison."  "Be  it 
so,"  said  Dr.  N.,  "  and  what  did  he  preach  ?"  "  I  do  not 
know,"  he  replied,  "  but  I  suppose  he  preached  the  gospel." 
"  Do  you  think,"  asked  the  doctor,  "  that  he  preached  to  them 
any  thing  different  from  what  he  preached  on  earth  ?"  "  Cer- 
tainly not,"  replied  the  man.  "  Well,"  said  Dr.  Nettleton, 
"  when  Christ  was  on  earth,  he  told  sinners  that,  if  they  should 
be  cast  into  prison,  they  should  not  come  out  thence  till  they 
had  paid  the  uttermost  farthing.  If  he  went  down  to  hell,  to 
preach  to  the  lost  spirits  there,  he  doubtless  told  them,  '  You 
must  remain  here  till  you  have  suffered  all  that  your  sins 
deserve.'  What  influence,  then,  would  his  preaching  have 
towards  releasing  them  from  the  place  of  torment  ?" 


A  man  once  said  to  him,  "  I  sincerely  desire  to  be  a  Chris- 
tian. I  have  oflen  gone  to  the  house  of  God,  hoping  that  some- 
thing which  should  be  said  might  be  sent  home  to  my  mind  by 
the  Spirit  of  God,  and  be  blessed  to  my  salvation."  "  You 
are  willing,  then,  are  you  not,"  said  Dr.  N.,  "  that  I  should 
converse  with  you,  hoping  that  my  conversation  may  be  the 
means  of  your  conversion  ?"  "  I  am,"  he  replied.  "  If  you 
are  willing  to  be  a  Christian,"  said  Dr.  N.,  "  you  are  willing 
to  perform  the  duties  of  religion ;  for  this  is  what  is  implied 
in  being  a  Christian.  Are  you  willing  to  perform  these  duties  ?" 
"  I  do  not  know  but  I  am."  "You  are  the  head  of  a  family. 
One  of  the  duties  of  religion  is  family  prayer.  Are  you  will- 
ing to  pray  in  your  family?"  "  T  should  be,"  he  replied,  "  if 
I  were  a  Christian.  But  it  cannot  be  the  duty  of  such  a  man 
as  I  am  to  pray.  '  The  prayers  of  the  wicked  are  an  abomi 
nation  unto  the  Lord.' "     "And  is  it  not,"  said  Dr.  N.,  "  an 


REV.  DR.  NETTLETON.  299 

abomination  unto  the  Lord  to  live  without  prayer?  But  just 
let  me  show  you  how  you  deceive  yourself.  You  think  you 
really  desire  to  be  converted.  But  you  are  not  willing  even  to 
be  convicted.  Just  as  soon  as  I  mention  a  duty  which  you  are 
neglecting,  you  begin  to  excuse  and  justify  yourself,  on  pur- 
pose to  keep  your  sin  out  of  sight.  You  are  not  willing  to 
see  that  it  is  a  heinous  sin  to  live  in  the  neglect  of  family 
prayer.  How  can  you  expect  to  be  brought  to  repentance 
until  you  are  willing  to  see  your  sinfulness  ?  And  how  can 
you  flatter  yourself  that  you  really  desire  to  be  a  Christian, 
while  you  thus  close  your  eyes  against  the  truth  ?" 


A  young  lady,  who  was  under  concern  of  mind,  said  to 
htm,  "  I  certainly  do  desire  to  be  a  Christian.  I  desire  to  be 
holy.  I  would  give  all  the  world  to  have  an  interest  in  Christ." 
He  replied,  "What  you  say  will  not  bear  examination.  If 
you  really  desire  religion  for  what  it  is,  there  is  nothing  to 
hinder  you  from  possessing  it.  I  can  make  a  representation 
which  will  show  you  your  heart,  if  you  are  willing  to  see  it." 
"  I  am,"  said  she.  "  It  will  look  very  bad,"  said  he,  "  but  if 
you  are  willing  to  see  it,  I  will  make  the  representation.  Sup- 
pose you  were  a  yf>ung  lady  of  fortune ;  and  suppose  a  certain 
young  man  should  desire  to  obtain  your  fortune,  and  should, 
^r  that  reason,  conclude  to  pay  his  addresses  to  you.  But  he 
does  not  happen  to  be  pleased  with  your  person.  He  does  not 
love  you,  but  hates  you.  And  suppose  he  should  come  to  you 
and  say,  '  I  really  wish  I  could  love  you,  but  I  do  not.  I 
would  give  all  the  world  if  I  could  love  you,  but  I  cannot. 
What  would  you  think  of  that  young  man  ?" 


300  THE    AMERICAN    CLEBGY. 

A  person  once  said  in  his  presence,  that  to  inculcate  upon 
sinners  their  dependence  on  God  for  a  new  heart,  is  suited  to 
discourage  effort,  and  to  lead  them  to  sit  down  in  despair.  He 
replied,  "  The  very  reverse  of  this  is  true.  Suppose  a  number 
of  men  are  locked  up  in  a  room,  playing  cards.  Some  person 
informs  them  that  the  roof  of  the  building  is  on  fire,  and  that 
they  must  make  their  escape,  or  they  will  perish  in  the  flames. 
Says  one  of  them.  '  We  need  not  be  in  haste,  we  shall  have 
time  to  finish  the  game.'  '  But,'  says  the  person  who  gave 
the  alarm,  '  your  door  is  locked.'  '  No  matter  for  that,'  he 
replies ;  '  I  have  the  key  in  my  pocket,  and  can  open  it  at  any 
moment.'  '  But  I  tell  you  that  the  key  will  not  open  the  door.' 
*  Won't  it  ?'  he  exclaims ;  and,  rising  from  the  table,  flies  to 
the  door,  and  exerts  himself  to  the  utmost  to  open  it.  So  sin- 
ners, while  they  believe  there  is  no  difficulty  in  securing  their 
salvation  at  any  moment,  quiet  their  consciences  and  silence 
their  fears.  But  when  they  are  taught  that  such  is  the  wick- 
edness of  their  hearts,  that  they  will  never  repent  unless  God 
interposes  by  his  regenerating  grace,  they  are  alarmed,  and 
begin  to  inquire,  in  deep  distress,  what  they  shall  do  to  be 
saved." 


A  caviller  once  asked  this  excellent  minister,  "  How  came  I 
by  my  wicked  heart  ?"  "  That,"  he  replied,  "  is-  a  question 
which  does  not  concern  you  so  much  as  another,  namely,  how 
you  shall  get  rid  of  it?  You  have  a  wicked  heart,  which  ren- 
ders you  entirely  unfit  for  the  kingdom  of  God ;  and  you  must 
have  a  new  heart,  or  you  cannot  be  saved ;  and  the  question 
which  now  most  deeply  concerns  you  is,  how  you  shall  obtain 
it."  "  But,"  said  the  man,  "  I  wish  you  to  tell  me  how  I  cnn.e 
by  my  wicked  heart."  "  I  shall  not,"  replied  Dr.  N.,  "  do 
that  at  present ;  for  if  I  could  do  it  to  your  entire  satisfactior  . 


REV.    DR.    NETTLETON.  301 

it  would  not  in  the  least  help  you  towards  obtaining  a  new 
heart.  The  great  thing  for  which  I  am  solicitous  is,  that  you 
s-hould  become  a  new  creature,  and  be  prepared  for  heaven." 
As  the  man  manifested  no  wish  to  hear  any  thing  on  that  subject, 
but  still  pressed  the  question  how  he  came  by  his  wicked  heart, 
Dr.  N.  told  him  that  his  condition  resembled  that  of  a  man 
who  is  drowning,  while  his  friends  are  attempting  to  save  his 
life.  As  he  rises  to  the  surface  of  the  water,  he  exclaims, 
"How  came  I  here?"  "That  question,"  says  one  of  his 
friends,  "  does  not  concern  you  now.  Take  hold  of  this  rope." 
'  But  how  came  I  here?"  he  asks  again.  "  I  shall  not  stop  to 
answer  that  question  now,"  replies  his  friend.  "Then  I'll 
drown,"  says  the  infatuated  man,  and,  spurning  all  p^'ofTered 
^id,  sinks  to  the  bottom. 


A  young  female,  who  had  been  for  some  time  in  a  fetate  of 
religious  anxiety,  said  to  him,  "  What  do  you  think  of  the  doc- 
trine of  election  ?  Some  say  it  is  true,  and  some  say  it  is  not 
true  ;  and  I  do  not  know  what  to  think  of  it."  "And  what  do 
you  wish  to  think  of  it  ?"  "  I  wish,"  said  he,  "  to  think  that  it 
is  not  true."  "  Suppose,  then,"  said  Dr.  Nettleton,  "  that  it  is 
not  true.  The  doctrine  of  repentance  is  true.  You  must 
repent  or  perish.  Now,  if  the  doctrine  of  election  is  not  true, 
what  reason  have  you  to  believe  you  ever  shall,  repent?" 
After  a  moment's  reflection,  she  replied,  "  If  the  doctrine  of 
election  is  not  true,  I  never  shall  repent."  Her  eyes  were  then 
opened  upon  her  true  condition.  Every  refuge  failed  her.  She 
saw  that  she  was  entirely  dependent  on  the  sovereign  grace  of 
God ;  and  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  she  was  soon  brought 
out  of  darkness  into  God's  marvellous  light. 


26 


302  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

A  certain  individual  said  to  him,  "  I  cannot  get  along  with 
the  doctrine  of  election."  "  Then,"  said  he,  "  get  along  with- 
out it ;  you  are  at  liberty  to  get  to  heaven  the  easiest  way  you 
can.  Whether  the  doctrine  of  election  is  true  or  not,  it  is 
true  that  you  must  repent,  and  believe,  and  love  God.  Now, 
what  we  tell  you  is,  that  such  is  the  wickedness  of  your  heart, 
that  you  never  will  do  these  things  unless  God  has  determined 
to  renew  your  heart.  If  you  do  not  believe  that  your  heart  is 
so  wicked,  make  it  manifest  by  complying  with  the  terms  of 
salvation.  Why  do  you  stand  cavilling  with  the  doctrine  of 
election  ?  Suppose  you  should  prove  it  false ;  what  have  you 
gained?  You  must  repent  and  believe  in  Christ,  after  all. 
Why  do  you  not  immediately  comply  with  these  terms  of  the 
gospel  1  When  you  have  done  this,  without  the  aid  of  Divine 
grace,  it  will  be  soon  enough  to  oppose  the  doctrine  of  election. 
Until  you  shall  have  done  this,  we  shall  still  believe  that  the 
doctrine  of  election  lies  at  the  foundation  of  all  hope  in  yonr 


A  woman,  who  was  known  to  be  a  great  opposer  of  the  doc- 
trine of  election,  said  to  him,  one  day,  "  You  talked  to  me 
yesterday,  as  if  you  thought  I  could  repent."  "And  can  you 
not?"  said  he."  "No,  I  cannot,  unless  God  shall  change  my 
heart."  "  Do  you  really  believe,"  said  he,  "  that  you  cannot 
repent  unless  God  has  determined  to  change  your  heart  ?"  "  I 
do,  said  she.  "  Why,  madam,"  said  he,  "  you  hold  to  the 
doctrine  of  election  in  a  stricter  sense  than  I  do.  I  should 
prefer  to  say,  not  that  you  cannot,  but  that  you  neve?-  iciU 
repent,  unless  God  has  determined  to  change  your  heart." 


REV.    DR.    NETTLETON.  803 

To  a  young  woman,  who  had  long  been  thoughtful,  but  not 
deeply  impressed,  and  who  seemed  to  continue  from  week  to 
week  in  the  same  state  of  mind,  he  said,  one  day,  "  There  are 
some  who  never  will  become  true  believers.  Christ  said  unto 
the  Jews,  '  Ye  believe  not,  because  ye  are  not  of  my  sheep.' 
Perhaps  this  is  your  case ;  and  I  tell  you  now,  that  if  you  are 
not  one  of  Christ's  sheep,  you  will  never  believe  on  him ;  and 
I  hope  it  will  ring  in  your  ears."  And  it  did  ring  in  her  ears. 
From  that  moment  she  found  no  peace  till,  as  she  hoped,  her 
peace  was  made  with  God. 


To  a  man  who  manifested  great  opposition  to  the  doctrine  of 
election,  he  once  said,  "If  I  should  go  to  heaven,  I  feel  as  if  I 
should  wish  to  say,  in  the  language  of  the  apostle,  'who  hath 
saved  us,  and  called  us  with  an  holy  calling ;  not  according  to 
our  works,  but  according  to  his  own  purpose  and  grace,  which 
was  given  to  us  in  Jesus  Christ  before  the  world  began.'  Now, 
if  we  should  meet  in  heaven,  and  I  should  make  use  of  this 
language,  would  you  quarrel  with  me  there  ?" 


"  Do  you  believe,"  said  an  Arminian  to  him,  one  day,  "  that 
God  influences  the  will  ?"  "  I  do,"  he  replied.'  "  How  do  you 
prove  it  ?"  "  I  prove  it  by  this  passage  of  Scripture  :  *  For  it 
is  God  that  worketh  in  you  both  to  will  and  to  do.'  "  "  But  that 
does  not  mean,"  said  the  Arminian,  "  that  God  influences  the 
will.  And  noiv,  how  do  you  prove  it?"  "I  prove  it,"  said 
Dr.  N.,  by  this  passage :  '  For  it  is  God  that  worketh  in  you 
both  to  will  and  to  do.' "  "  But  that,  I  say,  does  not  mean 
that  God  influences  the  will."  "And  what  does  it  mean?" 
said  Dr.  N.     "  It  means,"  said  the  Arminian   "  that  God  gives 


304  THE    AMERICAN    CLERtiV. 

US  a  gracious  power  to  will  and  to  do."  "  Then  it  does  not 
mean,"  said  Dr.  N.,  "  that  God  works  in  us  both  to  will  and 
to  do:' 


He  once  fell  in  company  with  two  men  who  were  disputing 
on  the  doctrine  of  the  saints'  perseverance.  As  he  came  into 
their  presence,  one  of  them  said,  "  I  believe  this  doctrine  has 
been  the  means  of  filling  hell  with  Christians."  "  Sir,"  said 
Dr.  N.,  "  do  you  believe  that  God  knows  all  things  ?"  "  Cer- 
tainly I  do,"  said  he.  "  How,  then,  do  you  interpret  this  text, 
'  I  never  knew  you  ?'  "  said  Dr.  N.  After  reflecting  a  mo- 
moment,  he  replied,  "  The  meaning  must  be,  I  never  knew  you 
as  Christians."  "  Is  that  the  meaning  ?"  said  Dr.  N.  "  Yes, 
it  must  be,"  he  replied  ;  "  for  certainly  God  knows  all  things." 
"  Well,"  said  Dr.  N.,  "  I  presume  you  are  right.  Now,  this 
is  what  our  Saviour  will  say  to  those  who,  at  the  last  day,  shall 
say  to  him.  Lord,  Lord,  have  we  not  eaten  and  drunken  in 
thy  presence?  &c.  Now,  when  Saul,  and  Judas,  and  Hyme- 
neus,  and  Philetus,  and  Demas,  and  all  whom  you  suppose 
have  fallen  from  grace,  shall  say  to  Christ,  Lord,  Lord — he 
will  say  to  them,  '  I  never  knew  you' — I  never  knew  you  as 
Christians.  Where,  then,  are  the  Christians  that  are  going 
to  hell  ?" 


A  person  who  objected  to  some  of  the  doctrinal  views  of 
Dr.  Nettleton,  said  to  him,  "  Doctor,  you  believe  in  the  doc- 
trine of  the  saints'  perseverance  ?"  "  It  is  my  opinion,"  re- 
plied he,  "  that  that  doctrine  is  taught  in  the  Bible."  "  I  should 
like,  then,"  said  this  friend,  "  to  hear  you  explain  Ezck.  xviii. 
24.  *  When  the  righteous  turneth  away  from  his  righteousness 
and  committeth  iniquity,  and  doeth  according  to  all  the  abomi- 
nations that  the  wicked  man  doeth,  shall   he  live?    All  the* 


REV.    DR.    NETTLETON.  305 

righteousness  that  he  hath  done  shall  not  be  mentioned ;  in  his 
trespass  that  he  hath  trespassed,  and  in  his  sin  that  he  hath 
sinned,  in  them  shall  he  die !'  " 

Dr.  N.  replied,  "You  have  imposed  upon  me  a  hard  task. 
That  is  a  difficult  text  to  explain ;  and  what  renders  it  the 
more  difficult  is,  that  the  commentators  are  not  agreed  as  to 
its  meaning.  Some  have  supposed,  that  by  a  righteous  man 
in  this  passage,  is  meant  a  self-righteous  man."  "  I  do  not 
believe  that,"  said  the  individual.  "  Neither  do  I,"  replied 
the  Doctor,  "  for,  in  that  case,  it  would  seem  to  teach  that  if  a 
self-righteous  man  should  persevere  in  his  self-righteousness, 
he  would  be  saved.  Some  have  supposed  that  by  a  righteous 
man  is  meant  one  who  is  apparently  righteous."  "  I  do  not 
believe  that,"  said  his  friend,  "  Neither  do  I,"  said  Dr.  N., 
"  for  in  that  case  the  text  would  seem  to  teach,  that  if  a  hypo- 
crite should  persevere  in  his  hypocrisy,  he  would  be  saved. 
You  suppose,  do  you  not,  that  by  a  righteous  man  in  this  pas- 
sage, is  meant  a  true  saint  ?"  "  Certainly  I  do."  "  And  you 
suppose  that  by  a  righteous  man's  turning  away  from  his 
righteousness,  is  meant  falling  away,  as  David  did,  and  as 
Peter  did  ?"  "  Certainly."  "  And  you  believe  that  David  and 
Peter  are  now  in  hell  ?"  "  No,  by  no  means.  David  and  Pe- 
ter repented  and  were  restored  to  the  favor  of  God."  "  But," 
said  Dr.  N.,  "  when  the  righteous  turneth  from  his  righteous- 
ness— in  his  trespass  that  he  hath  trespassed,  and  in  his  sin 
that  he  hath  sinned,  in  them  shall  he  die — in  them  shall  he 
die.  Now,  if  David  and  Peter  did  turn  from  their  righteous- 
ness in  the  sense  of  this  passage,  how  can  we  possibly  believe 
that  they  were  saved  1"  The  gentleman  now  found  the  labour- 
ing oar  in  his  own  hands ;  and  after  attempting  for  some  time 
unsuccessfully  to  explain  the  difficulty  in  which  he  found  his 
own  doctrine  involved.  Dr.  N.  said  to  him,  "  If  there  is  any 
difficulty  in  explaining  this  text  of  Scripture,  I  do  not  see  but 
you  are  quite  as  much  troubled  with  it  as  I  am." 

26* 


306  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

Dr.  Nettleton  was  once  labouring  in  an  interesting  revival, 
when  a  gentleman  of  considerable  influence,  a  member  of  the 
church,  but  whose  principles  and  conduct  were  a  reproach  to 
religion,  told  him  that  he  opposed  all  religious  meetings  except 
those  held  on  the  Sabbath.     At  the  same  time,  he  made  no 
objections  to  balls  and  parties  of  pleasure,  but  encouraged  his 
children  to  attend  them.     Two  of  his  daughters,  one  evening, 
without  his  knowledge,  went  to    hear  Dr.  Nettleton    preach. 
Finding  that  they  had  gone,  he  went  to  the  place,  and  inter- 
rupted the  meeting  by  ordering  his  daughters  immediately  to 
return  home.     Then,  addressing  the  preacher,  he  said,  "  Mr. 
Nettleton,  will  you  call  and  see  me  to-morrow  morning  at  nine 
o'clock?"  "I  will,  sir,"  he  replied.     Accordingly,  at  the  time 
proposed  he  was  at  the  house.     "  Mr.  Nettleton,"  said  the  gen- 
tleman, "  I  do  not  approve  of  night  meetings."     "  Neither  do 
I  approve  of  balls,"  said  Dr.  Nettleton  :  "  I  think  that  their 
influence  upon  young  people  is  bad."     *'  I  do  not  approve  of 
such  meetings  as   yours,"  said   the  gentleman.     "  Oh  !"  re- 
plied Dr.  N.,    "  it  is  to  religious  meetings  that  you  object, 
when  people  meet  together  to  worship  God.     If  I  understand 
you,  you  feel  no  opposition  to  ^rneetings  of  young  people  for 
amusement,  if  they  are  held  in  the  night,  and   continue  all 
night.     Did  you  ever  take  your  children  from  the  ball-room  ?" 
,"  The  command,"  said  he,  "  is.  Six  days  shalt  thou  labour." 
"Did  you  ever  quote  that  command,"  asked  Dr.  N.,  "  to  prove 
that  it  is  wrong  to  attend  balls  and  parties  of  pleasure?"  Then, 
assuming  a  solemn  dnd  affectionate  mode  of  address,  he  said 
to  him,  "  My  dear  sir,  you  are  a  member  of  the  church,  but 
you  must  not  wonder  if  you  are  regarded  by  your  acquaint- 
ance as  in  heart  the  enemy  of  religion,  unless  you  pursue  a 
more  consistent  course  of  conduct.      While  you  encourage 
balls,  and  oppose  meetings  for  religious  worship,  you  will  find 
it  difficult  to  make  anybody  believe  that  you  have  any  regarci 


REV.    DR.    NETTLETON.  307 

for  the  religion  you  profess."     The  gentleman  wept,  and  a 
decided  change  took  place  in  his  future  deportment. 


In  his  visits  from  house  to  house,  Dr.  Nettleton  was  pecu- 
liarly careful  to  leave  a  deep  impression;  he  therefore  con- 
versed but  little  on  general  topics,  and  soon  left  the  house.  He 
knew  not  only  what  to  say,  but  when  to  be  silent.  Many  have 
been  thrown  into  distress  by  his  apparent  neglect.  He  had  a 
significant  way  of  addressing  individuals.  While  preaching 
in  Malta,  where  his  efforts  were  signally  blessed,  he  found  a 
young  lady,  the  daughter  of  a  deacon,  who  was  very  stubborn  ; 
she  was  masculine  in  appearance,  and  apparently  in  the  way 
of  the  conversion  of  many  young  persons ;  he  dreaded  her  in  = 
fluence.  He  had  a  serious,  direct  conversation  with  her,  ap- 
parently without  any  good  effect.  When  about  to  leave  her, 
he  approached  her  with  a  resolute  step  and  look,  and  said,  call- 
ing her  by  name — "  Do  not  think  of  shutting  your  eyes  to- 
night without  prayer ;  before  you  retire  to  rest,  go  down  on 
your  knees  and  call  upon  God ;  remember,  I  tell  you  to  do  it." 
This  he  said  with  great  emphasis.  He  left  her  abruptly.  She 
was  more  offended  than  ever,  and  said  many  hard  things 
against  him.  When  she  went  to  her  room  at  the  close  of  the 
evening,  as  he  predicted,  the  struggle  commenced.  She 
thought  of  his  words  ;  she  was  alone  ;  her  proud  heart  resisted, 
and  she  exclaimed  aloud,  "What  right  or  authority  has  he  to 
dictate  to  me  my  duty  ?"  It  rung  in  her  ears,  "  I  tell  you  to 
do  it."  "  You  tell  me  !  old  Nettleton,  I  will  not  do  it."  "  Per- 
haps he  spoke  by  the  Spirit ;  what  will  become  of  me  if  I  re- 
fuse ?"  The  struggle  was  long ;  she  trembled  in  every  nerve. 
She  finally  fell  upon  her  knees  and  cried  for  mercy.  She  be- 
came an  humble  Christian,  and  was  instrumental  in  turning 
many  to  righteousness.     How  many  such  instances,  where  he 


308  THE    AMERICAN    CLEKGV. 

displayed  wonderful  tact !  Truly  the  Lord  was  with  him.  He 
was  therefore  a  host.  He  had  but  one  object,  that  was — to  do 
good.  He  knew  the  importance  of  keeping  the  mind  intent 
upon  the  great  subject ;  he  therefore  requested  his  friends  who 
laboured  with  him  to  avoid  all  levity,  and,  as  much  as  possible, 
worldly  conversation.  He  watched  every  cause  which  might 
divert  the  attention. 


The  following  facts  we  copy  from  "  The  Christian  Index." 
We  have  heard  an  anecdote  of  Dr.  Nettleton,  a  Presbyte- 
rian revivalist,  which  is  apropos  here.  A  parcel  of  gay  young 
persons  got  up  a  ball  in  a  neighbourhood  in  which  Dr.  N.  had 
been  preaching  with  great  success,  and  for  the  amusement  of 
themselves  and  others,  inserted  the  reverend  gentleman's  name 
at  the  head  of  the  list  of  managers.  The  company  assembled 
at  the  time  appointed.  About  the  hour  for  commencing  the 
dance,  Dr.  N.  made  his  appearance,  and  observed  to  the  com- 
pany that  he  perceived,  from  the  tickets  that  had  been  issued, 
that  he  had  been  appointed  a  manager,  and  therefore,  he  pro- 
posed to  open  the  services  with  prayer.  He  then  offered  up  a 
very  affecting  prayer  for  the  thoughtless  group ;  which  was 
blessed  of  God,  to  the  conviction  of  a  number  of  those  pre- 
sent, several  of  whom  afterwards  professed  conversion,  united 
with  the  church,  and  were  never  afterwards  found  within  the 
walls  of  a  ball-room.  This  anecdote  we  believe  to  be  true. 
The  circumstances  were  narrated  to  us  in  Virginia,  while  Dr. 
N.  was  labouring  in  the  county  in  which  we  then  resided. 


A  young  man  just  completing  his  professional  studies,  was 
induced    to   accompany   some  female   friends  to  the  pastor's 


REV.    DR.    NETTLETON.  309 

study.  He  there  gave  a  prromise  that  before  he  retired  that 
night,  he  would,  on  his  knees,  offer  prayer  for  himself.  Pos- 
sessing strict  integrity,  when  he  went  to  his  room,  he  thought 
of  his  promise;  he  was  embarrassed — he  walked  the  room, 
in  a  cold  winter's  night,  till  late,  before  his  proud  heart  would 
yield  ;  and  when  he  fell  on  his  knees,  such  was  the  struggle 
in  his  mind,  he  said,  "  He  would  not,  if  he  could  be  President 
of  the  United  States,  that  any  should  know  he  was  on  his 
knees  in  prayer."  There  he  was  awakened,  and  after  more 
than  a  week's  struggle,  he  was  made  willing  in  the  day  ol 
God's  power.  He  became,  not  only  distinguished  as  a  physi- 
cian, but  as  a  Christian  and  an  officer — m  the  church. 


A  writer  in  the  American  Messenger  says : — 

More  than  twenty  years  ago,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  spending 
some  time  in  two  places  in  the  state  of  New  York,  in  which 
powerful  revivals  of  religion  were  in  progress,  by  the  blessing 
of  God,  upon  the  labours  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Nettleton. 

In  the  course  of  the  first  revival,  in  the  town  of ,  a 

gentleman  of  my  acquaintance  became  deeply  anxious  for  his 
soul.  He  wept,  he  mourned,  he  sighed,  and  no  doubt  prayed 
for  days  and  days  together.  But  he  was  proud  and  obstinate ; 
he  would  not  submit  to  God. 

One  day,  his  amiable  wife,  whose  anxieties  about  her  hus- 
band were  almost  beyond  control,  came  into  his  room,  and, 
finding  him  still  lingering  in  his  wretched  condition,  and 
solemnly  fearing  that  he  would  grieve  away  the  Holy  Spirit,  and 
turn  back  to  the  world,  she  fell  upon  her  knees,  in  his  presence, 
and  fervently  prayed  for  him.  The  husband's  state  of  mind, 
after  that  prayer,  may  be  conjectured,  but  not  easily  described. 
He  literally  writhed  in  mental  anguish.  .  * 

Dr.  Nettleton  was  the  wisest  man  that  I  ever  saw,  in  tracing 


lUO  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

out  the  operations  of  the  human  mind,  when  under  the  influ- 
ences of  the  Divine  Spirit.  He  seemed  to  possess  almost  in- 
tuitive knowledge  of  this  subject.  When  he  saw  a  sinner  long 
lingering  under  conviction,  he  judged  that  there  was  a  special 
cause,  and  he  was  pretty  sure  to  detect  that  cause. 

One  day,  after  my  friend  Lambert  (for  so  I  will  call  him) 
had  been  struggling  with  and  stifling  his  convictions  for  some 
time,  Dr.  Nettleton  called  to  see  him  once  more.  He  talked 
with  him,  pointed  him  to  the  Saviour,  and  perhaps  prayed 
with  him.  But  there  Lambert  lingered  still — a  miserable,  dis- 
consolate, lost  sinner.  No  light,  no  hope.  What  could  be  the 
matter?  Dr.  Nettleton  smelt  ardent  spirits.  That  was  enough. 
He  immediately  intimated  to  Lambert  that  he  was  drinking 
with  a  view  to  drive  away  his  convictions;  and,  I  believe,  the 
latter  did  not  deny  the  charge.  Dr.  Nettleton  solemnly  warned 
the  wretched  man,  and  left  him.  What  was  the  result  ?  The 
Spirit  of  God  left  my  friend,  and  the  unclean  spirit,  who  had 
gone  out,  returned  to  his  old  habitation,  accompanied  by  seven 
other  spirits,  more  wicked  than  himself;  and  the  last  state  of 
that  man  was  worse  than  the  first. 

Perhaps  ten  months  pass  away,  when  a  blast  and  a  mildew 
rest  upon  all  that  pertains  to  this  miserable  man.  Nothing 
prospers  in  his  hands.  His  business,  though  formerly  flourish- 
ing, is  in  ruins ;  and  he  is  compelled  to  leave  the  beautiful 
house  in  which  he  lived.  This  is  not  the  worst ;  he  is  given 
up  of  God  ;  he  is  undone,  to  all  appearance,  for  time  and 
eternity.  His  lovely  wife  and  his  interesting  children  are  dis- 
consolate and  broken-hearted. 

Go  with  me  now  through  yonder  street  of  the  town,  at 
night,  and  what  do  we  see?  There  lies  poor,  wretched,  ruined 
Lambert,  a  drunkard  in  the  ditch  !  Oh,  God  !  what  is  man, 
when  left  of  thy  Spirit?  Let  a  veil,  for  the  present,  cover  the 
sequel. 

Reader,  if  the  Spirit  of  God  strive  with  you,  as  you  value 
salvation,  grieve  him  not  away. 


A    BAPTIST    MINISTER.  31' 


A  BAPTIST  MINISTER. 


The  doctrine  of  the  perseverance  of  the  saints  is  often 
abused.  Common  sense,  however,  will  sometimes  sweep  away 
the  sophisms  of  Antinomianism,  and  I  leave  it  without  any  dis- 
guise for  its  ugly  absurdity.  A  recent  instance  of  this  occurred 
in  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  A  man,  who  had  been  a  professor 
of  religion,  was  in  a  very  backslidden  state,  to  say  the  least 
of  it.  He  was  approached  by  a  minister,  who  endeavoured  to 
awaken  him  to  a  sense  of  danger,  and  arouse  him  to  efforts 
such  as  his  case  demanded. 

"  I  cannot  believe,"  the  man  replied,  "  that  I  never  have 
known  the  grace  of  God.  It  is  impossible  that  I  can  have 
been  deceived  in  my  former  feelings ;  and  1  am  very  well 
assured  that  the  work  which  God  has  begun,  he  will  carry  on 
till  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus." 

Here  he  rested,  and  seemed  perfectly  contented  to  abide  in 
his  backslidden  condition,  supporting  himself  by  his  misquota- 
tion of  Scripture. 

The  minister  listened  to  him  patiently,  until  he  had  finished, 
and  then  replied, 

"  Yes,  I  know  very  well,  that  where  God  commences  a 
work  of  grace  in  the  heart,  he  will  carry  it  on.  This  is  what 
makes  me  fear  for  you.  In  your  case,  the  work  "has  stopped. 
I  cannot  believe,  then,  that  God  ever  began  it.  You  must 
certainly  be  deceived." 

The  man  was  silent,  and  appeared  moved.  At  length,  he 
frankly  confessed  that  this  was  a  death-blow  to  the  false  hope 
on  which  he  had  been  depending. 


312  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


A  POOR  MINISTER. 


I  HEARD  a  story,  the  other  day,  says  a  writer  in  one  of  our 
periodicals,  A^hich  seems  too  good  to  be  lost.  A  church  in 
the  country  had  just  engaged  a  good  minister,  who  had  not 
attended  long,  when,  after  preaching  on  a  Sunday,  the  deacon 
gave  him  a  pull,  and  said, 

"  I  want  to  speak  with  you." 

After  going  aside,  the  deacon  said, 

"  Brother,  I  saw  something  about  you,  to-day,  that  hurt  my 
feelings." 

"  What  was  it,  my  dear  brother  ?"  said  the  minister,  in  sur- 
prise ;  "  do  tell  me." 

"  It  was  about  your  arm,  while  you  were  preaching,  I  saw  it." 

The  poor  minister  became  still  more  alarmed,  and  anxious 
to  know  in  what  way  he  had  hurt  the  dear  old  father's  feel- 
ings. 

The  deacon  pointed  to  his  elbow.     "  There  it  is  yet,"  said  he 

The  minister  began  to  brush  his  sleeve. 

"  Stop,"  said  the  deacon ;  "  you  can't  mend  it  now ;  there 
is  a  hole  in  your  coat,  right  on  the  elbow.  I  am  hurt  to  see 
our  minister  have  to  wear  such  a  coat.  Now,  I  want  you  to 
go  to and  choose  a  coat  pattern,  and  I'll  pay  for  it." 

The  minister  thanked  him  kindly,  and  was  entirely  relieved 
of  his  fright. 


A  COURTEOUS  CLERGYMAN. 


Some  years  ago,  a  young  man,  a  bricklayer  by  trade,  re- 
moved from  New  Hampshire  to  work  in  the  city  of  Lowell. 
He  cherished  at  heart  a  strong  prejudice  against  professed 
Christians,  considering  them  as  proud  and  supercilious,  oiid 


REV.    J.    EASTUrKX,  lil'd 

ever  ready  to  say  to  him,  "  Stand  by  thyself;  we  are  holier  than 
thou !"  His  feeling  of  repugnance  was  so  deep-seated,  and 
had  such  a  controlling  influence  over  his  intellectual  nature,  as 
to  generate  skeptical  thoughts,  and  lead  him  to  question  the 
truth  of  the  Bible.  One  day,  as  he  was  going  to  his  work,  he 
saw  a  gentleman  approaching,  who  had  been  pointed  out  to 

him  as  the  Rev.  Mr. ,  and  represented  as  one  of  the  most 

affable  and  courteous  of  his  profession.  "  Now,"  said  he,  "  I 
will  put  this  matter  to  the  test.  Here  I  am  in  my  work-day 
clothes.  If  this  man  notices  me,  I  will  think  there  is,  after  all, 
something  good  in  religion." 

They  met.  The  clergyman  raised  his  hat,  bowed,  smiled, 
and  looked  as  if  he  would  say,  "  I  should  be  happy  to  become 
acquainted  with  you."  The  young  bricklayer  passed  on  to  his 
labour,  but  could  not  forget  his  promise.  The  next  Sabbath, 
he  went  to  hear  that  "  gentlemanly  minister,"  and  an  acquaint- 
ance of  the  most  agreeable  and  salutary  kind  ensued.  His 
skeptical  notions  melted  away  before  kind  treatment,  like  snow- 
in  an  April  shower ;  and  he  soon  became  an  honest  inquirer 
after  truth  and  mercy.  Now,  he  is  the  beloved  pastor  of  a 
flourishing  church. 

How  clearly  does  this  fact  prove  that  a  kind  and  courteous 
attention  to  young  men,  is  a  very  cheap  and  effective  mode  of 
usefulness.  No  men  ought  practically  to  study  the  apostolic 
injunction,  "  Be  courteous,"  more  than  the  ministers  of  Christ. 


REV.  JOSEPH  EASTBURN. 


Many  of  our  readers  entertain  an  affectionate  remembrance 
of  the  late  Joseph  Eastburn,  the  preacher  to  the  mariners,  and 
for  many  years  esteemed  for  his  patriarchal  piety  and  unwea- 

27 


314  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

ried  zeal.  In  his  doctrinal  views,  Mr.  Eastburn  was  Calvinis- 
tic ;  and,  among  other  points,  he  believed  fully  in  the  sove- 
reignty of  God  in  election.  An  Arminian  acquaintance,  who 
highly  esteemed  Mr.  Eastburn,  frequently  expressed  his  regret 
that  he  should  believe  in  so  horrible  a  doctrine,  and  took  occa- 
sion oftentimes  to  endeavour  to  argue  him  out  of  his  belief. 
Mr.  Eastburn,  who  was  unobtrusive  in  his  manners,  and  disin- 
clined to  controversy,  endeavoured  to  appease  him,  but  without 
effect.  At  a  religious  conference  meeting,  at  which  they  were 
both  present,  the  subject  was  again  in  some  way  introduced  ; 
when  Mr.  Eastburn  arose,  and,  in  his  peculiarly  striking  man- 
ner, addressed  this  gentleman  before  the  persons  assembled,  in 

the   following   manner: — "Brother  ,  have  you   not   told 

me  that,  in  your  earlier  life,  you  were  an  avowed  and  malig- 
nant infidel,  and  that  you  were  the  leader  of  an  infidel  club, 
and  that  you  and  your  companions  treated  every  sacred  subject 
with  impious  ridicule?  And  have  you  not  told  me  that,  out  of 
that  profane  company,  you  were  the  only  one  who  was  brought, 
by  the  grace  of  God,  to  a  sense  of  your  sins,  and  to  embrace 
the  Saviour?" 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  the  gentleman,  with  emphasis — "  glory  be 
to  God !" 

"  Then,"  said  Mr.  Eastburn,  quietly,  "  I  have  often  been 
disposed  to  tell  you,  that  that  was  election.''''  There  was  no 
reply. 

Thus  it  is.  The  opponents  of  this  doctrine  hesitate  not  to 
say  that  it  would  be  unjust  and  cruel  in  God  to  determine  from 
eternity  who  should  be  saved,  and  who  should  be  left  in  their 
sins;  but  they  make  no  such  charge  on  the  Almighty,  when, 
in  fact,  by  his  sovereign  grace,  he  calls  one  into  his  kingdom, 
and  leaves  others  to  perish.  The  determination  is  mysterious, 
but  the  execution  of  that  determination  is  all  right.  "  This 
gentleman  was  ready  to  ascribe  glory  to  God  for  selecting  him 
as  a  trophy  of  grace  from  the  midst  of  his  ungodly  compa 


REV.    JOHN    WESLEY.  315 

nions ,  but,  according  to  his  profession,  he  would  have  been 
struck  with  horror  at  the  thought  that  God  should  have  loved 
and  have  chosen  him  from  eternity. 


REV.  JOHN  WESLEY. 

The  first  time  I  had  the  pleasure  of  being  in  the  company 
of  the  Rev.  John  Wesley,  says  a  correspondent  of  the  New 
York  Evangelist,  was  in  the  year  1783.  I  asked  him  what 
must  be  done  to  keep  Methodism  alive  when  he  was  dead  ?  To 
which  he  immediately  answered,  "  The  Methodists  must  take 
heed  to  their  doctrine,  their  experience,  their  practice,  and  their 
discipline.  If  they  attend  to  their  doctrines  onhj^  they  will 
make  the  people  Antinomians ;  if  to  the  experimental  part  of 
religion  only,  they  will  make  them  enthusiasts;  if  to  the 
practical  part  only,  they  will  make  them  pharisees ;  and  if 
they  do  not  attend  to  their  discipline,  they  will  be  like  persons 
who  bestow  much  pains  in  cultivating  their  garden,  and  put  no 
fence  round  it,  to  save  it  from  the  wild  boar  of  the  forest." 


Mr.  Wesley,  in  the  course  of  his  voyage  to  America,  hear- 
ing an  unusual  noRe  in  the  cabin  of  General  Oglethorpe,  the 
governor  of  Georgia,  with  whom  he  sailed,  stepped  in  to  in- 
quire the  cause  of  it.  The  general  addressed  him  :  "  Mr.  W., 
you  must  excuse  me ;  I  have  met  with  a  provocation  too  great 
for  a  man  to  bear.  You  know  the  only  wine  I  drink  is  Cyprus 
wine  ;  I  therefore  provided  myself  with  several  dozens  of  it, 
and  this  villain  Grimaldi"  (his  foreign  servant,  who  was  pre- 
sent, and  almost  dead  with  fear)  "  has  drunk  up  the  whole  of 
it.     But  I  will  be  revenged  on  him.     I  have  ordered  him  to  be 


316  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

tied  hand  and  foot,  and  to  be  carried  to  the  man-of-war  which 
sails  with  us.  The  rascal  should  have  taken  care  how  he 
used  me  so,  for  I  never  forgive."  "  Then  I  hope,  sir,"  said 
Mr.  W.,  looking  calmly  at  him,  "  you  never  sin."  The  gene- 
ral was  quite  confounded  at  the  reproof;  and,  putting  his  hands 
into  his  pocket,  took  out  a  bunch  of  keys,  which  he  threw  at 
Grimaldi.  "There,  villain,"  said  he,  "take  my  keys,  and 
behave  better  for  the  future." 


REV.  DR.  SPRING. 


Dr.  Spring,  of  New  York,  related,  some  time  ago,  that 
during  the  period  of  a  revival  of  religion  in  that  city,  a  young 
lady,  the  object  of  high  hope,  the  centre  of  wide  influence, 
capable  of  noble  things,  yet  careering  on  the  giddy  steep  of 
fashion  and  of  folly,  created  in  him  no  small  solicitude,  as  he 
would  have  to  give  an  account  for  her  soul,  every  avenue  to 
which  seemed  most  sedulously  guarded.  He  delayed  the  visit 
of  counsel  and  exhortation;  and  delayed  till,  rebuked  by  con- 
science, he  could  do  so  no  longer.  As  soon  as  he  called,  and 
was  ushered  into  the  saloon,  the  first  and  only  person  whom 
he  saw  was  this  young  lady,  bathed  in  tears,  who  immediately 
exclaimed,  "  My  dear  pastor,  I  rejoice  to  see  you.  I  was  fear- 
ful I  was  the  only  one  who  had  escaped  your  friendly  notice." 
What  a  rebuke  to  fear !  What  an  encouragement  to  hope  and 
to  action ! 


J>v-    > 


REV.    DR.    WADDELL.  317 

REV.  MR.  CLAP. 

The  late  Rev.  Mr.  Clap,  of  Rhode  Island,  was  asked  by  a 
member  of  his  church,  whether  he  thought  it  right  to  engage 
in  dancing?  His  reply  was,  "I  should  think  that  those  who 
are  out  of  Christ  should  have  no  heart  to  dance,  and  those 
who  are  in  Christ  will  have  enough  else  to  do." 


REV.  DR.  WADDELL. 


Those  who  have  read  Mr.  Wirt's  fine  work,  the  "  British 
Spy,"  will  remember  the  graphic  and  touching  description  of 
the  preaching  of  the  blind  Presbyterian  preacher,  as  already 
narrated  in  this  volume.  It  is  no  fancy  sketch ;  the  scene 
actually  occurred  as  it  is  described.  A  descendant  of  his  has 
lately  published  a  letter  which  was  originally  addressed  to  Mr. 
Wirt,  but  not  printed  by  him.  It  will  be  read  with  great 
interest. 

To  the  Author  of  the  British  Spy : 

The  distinguished  notice  you  have  taken  of  the  Rev.  James 
Waddell,  of  Virginia,  in  the  character  of  the  "  Blind  Preacher," 
has  induced  me  to  give  you  some  account  of  an  event  un- 
noticed by  you,  and  which  forms  an  era  in  his  life.  I  refer  to 
the  restoration  of  his  sight.  I  do  this  with  less  reserve,  since 
it  is  generally  understood  that  the  "  British  Spy"  had  been 
long  a  warm  friend  of  the  subject  of  this  notice ;  and  that  his 
removal  from  the  vicinity  of  the  "  Blind  Preacher,"  in  whose 
hospitable  mansion  he  had  received  many  and  warm  greetings, 
had  left  him  uninformed  of  the  event  to  which  I  have  alluded, 


318  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

and  of  the  circumstances  which  I  propose  to  detail.  You  have 
described  him  as  blind,  and,  while  occupying  the  rude  enclo- 
sure of  a  forest  pulpit,  addressing*  an  unseen  multitude  in 
strains  of  eloquence  which  might  captivate  cities  and  win  the 
admiration  of  grave  senates.  The  incidents  to  which  I  refer 
were  more  private ;  in  his  own  house,  and  in  the  midst  of  his 
family.  For  eight  years  he  had  been  blind — a  stranger  equally 
to  the  cheerful  light  of  day  and  the  cheering  faces  of  kindred 
and  friends.  It  will  readily  be  supposed,  that  in  this  lapse  of 
time  great  changes  had  taken  place.  The  infant  had  left  the 
knee  to  rove  amidst  the  fields  ;  the  youth  had  started  into  man- 
hood, and,  bidding  adieu  to  the  haunts  of  his  childhood,  had 
gone  forth  to  act  for  himself  upon  the  theatre  of  life ;  with  the 
hope,  indeed,  of  again  and  again  looking  upon  his  venerable 
father,  but  without  hope  of  that  father's  ever  looking  upon 
him.  A  calm  and  patient  resignation  had  settled  over  the 
mind  of  this  man  of  God,  as  a  summer's  cloud  settles  over 
the  horizon  of  evening.  Peaceful,  hopeful,  and  reclining  upon 
the  bosom  of  heaven,  every  painful  solicitude  about  himself 
had  fled  away.  This  personal  peace  and  Christian  submission 
were  calculated,  however,  to  concentrate  his  reflections  and 
solicitudes  upon  the  destinies  of  his,iamily,  here  and  hereafter. 
His  eye  could  not  now  see  for  them ;  but  he  had  a  heart  to 
invoke  the  watchfulness  of  an  eye  that  neither  slumbers  nor 
sleeps ;  that  neither  grows  dim  with  a!ge  nor  infirmity.  His 
palsied  hand  could  guide  them  no  longer,  but  patriarchal  coun- 
sel was  freely  given,  and  enforced  by  the  tremendous  realities 
of  a  future  existence.  The  thread  to  be  followed  through  the 
labyrinth  of  life,  it  was  taught,  had  its  fastenings  in  eternity  ; 
time  and  all  sublunary  things  should  be  viewed  in  the  light  of 
eternity.  But,  although  the  mental  vision  was  acute  and 
wisely  circumspect,  the  dark  curtain  still  hung  over  the  organs 
of  sight,  and  seemed  to  rise  no  more. 

And  what  if  it  should   be  otherwise;  that  hope  of  sight 


REV.    DR.    WADDELL.  319 

should  take  the  place  of  resignation  to  blindness ;  and,  more 
than  this,  that  hope  should  be  turned  into  fruition ;  that,  after 
the  darkness  of  eight  years,  he  should  be  presented  with  a 
broad  daylight  view  of  every  thing  around  him  !  And  this,  I 
assure  you,  was  almost  a  fact;  for,  after  an  operation  for 
cataract,  which,  in  the  progress  of  years,  had  rendered  light 
sensible,  and  then  objects  faintly  visible,  a  strong,  and  well 
constructed  convex  lens,  procured  by  the  kindness  of  a  distant 
friend,  enabled  him  to  see  with  considerable  distinctness.  At 
this  juncture,  I  happened  to  be  at  his  residence — called  by 
himself,  long  before,  "  Hopewell,"  and  now  fulfilling,  in  happy 
reality,  the  import  of  a  soft  and  cheerful  name.  The  scene, 
without  dispute,  was  the  most  moving  that  I  ever  witnessed. 
The  father  could  again  see  his  children,  who  riveted  his  atten- 
tion and  absorbed  his  soul.  Among  these,  emotions  of  intense 
interest  and  varied  suggestions  were  visible  in  the  eye,  the 
countenance,  and  the  hurried  movements.  The  bursts  of 
laughter — the  running  to  and  fro — the  clapping  of  hands — the 
sending  for  absent  friends — and  then  the  silent  tear  bedevvinsr 
the  cheek  in  touching  interlude — the  eager  gazes  of  old  serv- 
ants, and  the  unmeaning  wonder  of  young  ones — in  short,  the 
happy  confusion  from  the  agitation  of  joy — all  taken  together, 
was  a  scene  better  adapted  to  the  pencil  than  the  pen,  and 
which  a  master's  hand  might  have  been  proud  to  sketch.  How 
I  regretted  that  the  mantle  of  some  Raphael  or  Michael  An^relo 
had  not  fallen  upon  me ;  then  had  my  fame  and  my  feelings 
each  been  identified  with  the  scene,  and  others  should  have 
been  permitted  to  view  upon  the  canvas  what  I  must  fail  to 
describe  upon  paper. 

The  paroxysm  produced  by  the  arrival  of  the  glasses  having 
passed  away,  and  a  partial  experiment  having  satisfied  all  of 
their  adaptation  to  the  diseased  eye,  behold  the  patriarch  seated 
in  his  large  arm-chair,  with  his  children  around  him,  scanning 
with  affectionate  curiosity  the  bashful  group.     There  weis  a 


320  THJE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

visible  shyness  among  the  lesser  members  of  the  family  com 
raunity,  while  undergoing  this  fatherly  scrutiny,  not  unlike  that 
produced  by  a  long  absence.    The  fondness  of  a  father  in  con- 
templating those  most  dear  to  him,  wa^s  never  more  rationally- 
exemplified,  or  exquisitely  enjoyed,  than  on  this  occasion. 

And  now,  the  venerable  man,  arising  from  his  seat  and 
grasping  a  long  staff  which  lay  convenient  to  him,  had  pro-  , 
ceeded  but  a  short  distance,  when  the  staff  itself  seemed  pow- 
erfully, but  momentarily,  to  engage  his  attention  :  it  had  been 
the  companion  of  his  darkest  days,  the  pioneer  of  his  domestic 
travels,  and  the  supporter  of  a  weak  and  tottering  frame. 

He  next  proceeded  to  the  front  door,  to  take  a  view  of  the 
mountains ;  the  beautiful  south-west  range  stretching  out  in 
lovely  prospect,  at  the  distance  of  about  three  miles.  All  fol- 
lowed, myself  among  the  rest ;  and  the  mountain  scene,  though 
viewed  a  thousand  times  before,  was  now  gazed  upon  with 
deeper  interest,  and  presented  a  greater  variety  of  beauties 
than  ever.  Indeed,  this  mountain  scenery  ever  after  continued 
to  delight  my  unsatisfied  vision :  whether  my  attention  had  not 
before  this  been  carefully  drawn  to  its  beauties,  or  that  the 
suggestive  faculty,  linking  the  prospect  with  the  sympathetic 
pleasures  previously  enjoyed,  had  thrown  around  me  a  pleasing 
delusion,  I  am  unable  to  decide.  Delusion  apart,  however,  this 
sunny  base  of  the  south-west  mountains  is  a  delightful  region, 
distinguished  not  only  by  the  natural  advantages  of  a  fertile 
soil,  salubrious  climate,  and  beautiful  scenery,  but  by  a  race 
noted  for  the  social  virtues  and  for  a  higher  order  of  intellect. 

But  to  return  to  the  individual  whom  I  had  left  exercising  a 
new-born  vision  upon  the  external  world.  The  book-case  in- 
terviews I  had  looked  for  with  solicitude,  and  presently  had 
the  pleasure  of  witnessing.  Watts,  and  Doddridge,  and  Locke, 
and  Reid,  with  a  host  of  worthies,  had  been  the  companions 
of  his  best  days :  there  had  been  a  long  night  of  separation. 
The  meeting  and  communion  was  that  of  kindred  souls,  and 


REV.    MR.    SPENCER.  321 

cortiplimentary  alike  to  his  piety,  scholarship,  and  taste.  The 
si^ht  of  his  own  handwriting,  upon  tlie  blank  leaves  of  his 
books,  was  in  itself  a  small  circumstance,  but  seemed  to  affect 
him  not  a  little,  associated  no  doubt  with  varied  circumstances 
of  past  days. 

I  left  the  house,  full  of  reflections.  I  had  been  always  awed 
by  the  solemn  sanctity  and  personal  dignity  of  the  "  Blind 
Preacher."  The  yearning  solicitude  which  I  had  just  wit- 
nessed, of  such  a  father  over  his  children,  seen  now  for  the 
ftrst  time  after  the  dreary  blindness  of  years,  had  melted  my 
ieelings.  My  imagination  took  flight,  and,  passing  rapidly 
through  time,  was  conducted  by  the  incidents  of  this  day  to 
the  resurrection  morning  ;  when  the  saint  of  God,  throwing  off 
the  trammels  of  the  tomb,  with  quickened  vision  and  more  than 
mortal  solicitude,  looks  around  for  the  children  of  his  pilgrim- 
age. 


REV.  MR.  SPENCER. 


The  Rev.  Mr.  Spencer,  of  New  York,  has  furnished  the 
following  statement : — 

A  poor  minister  once  called  upon  me,  saying  that  his  horse 
and  carriage  were  under  a  mortgage,  which  was  soon  to  be 
foreclosed,  and  he  had  no  money  to  pay  it.  During  the  night 
on  which  he  stayed  at  my  house,  I  was  much  disturbed  in 
thinking  over  his  case.  I  felt  that  I  must  help  him,  though 
my  circumstances,  at  first  view,  seemed  to  forbid  even  the  idea. 
On  parting  with  the  good  man,  in  the  morning,  I  presented 
him  with  five  dollars,  which  was  all  the  money  I  had.  He 
hesitated  when  he  saw  the  amount,  and  said  that  so  large  a 
donation  might  embarrass  me.  "  No,"  said  I ;  "  it  is,  indeed, 
all  I  have,  but  you  should  have  more  if  I  had  it.     I  consider 


322  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

that  I  am  lending  to  the  Lord,  and  have  no  doubt  that  it  will 
soon  be  returned  again."  The  same  day,  making  a  call 
upon  one  of  my  parishioners,  who  paid  regularly  towards  my 
support,  three  dollars  were  unexpectedly  put  into  my  hand. 
And  not  long  after,  as  I  was  dining  with  another  family  of  my 
congregation,  who  likewise  helped  to  make  up  my  salary,  we 
were  conversing  on  the  reflex  benefits  of  beneficence ;  and  1 
remarked,  that  all  I  had  ever  lent  to  the  Lord,  had  been  paid 
back  in  some  unexpected  way,  with  the  exception  of  two  dol- 
lars. The  lady  of  the  house  immediately  arose  and  stepped 
towards  the  mantel-piece,  while  the  husband  smilingly  observed 
that  his  wife,  a  short  time  ago,  had  laid  up  two  dollars  in  the 
clock  for  me,  and  that  they  were  now  happy  to  have  thi« 
opportunity  of  completing  my  recent  loan  to  the  Lord. 


REV.  BELA  JACOBS. 


The  late  Rev.  B.  Jacobs,  of  Cambridgeport,  Mass.,  could, 
when  necessary,  administer  reproof  very  forcibly,  though  the 
gentleness  of  his  character  was  always  seen  in  the  manner  in 
which  it  was  done.  Some  young  ladies  at  his  house  were  one 
day  talking  about  one  of  their  female  friends.  As  he  entered 
ihe  room,  he  heard  the  epithets  "odd,"  "singular,"  &c., 
applied.  He  asked,  and  was  told  the  name  of  the  young  lady 
in  question,  and  then  said,  very  gravely,  "  Yes,  she  is  an  odd 
young  lady ;  she  is  a  very  odd  young  lady  ;  I  consider  her 
fxtremely  singular."  He  then  added,  very  impressively,  "  She 
was  never  heard  to  speak  ill  of  an  absent  friend."  The  re- 
Luke  was  not  forgotten  by  those  who  heard  it. 


REV.    MR.    ESTABROOK.  323 

This  excellent  minister  rarely  punished  his  children ;  his 
own  evidently  sincere  grief  at  any  wrong  committed,  was 
usually  sufficient  to  deter  from  what  was  so  sure  to  grieve  one 
so  tenderly  loved.  On  one  occasion,  however,  one  of  his 
children  had  committed  a  serious  act  of  disobedience.  They 
were  all  called  into  his  study ;  and  when  he  had,  with  tears, 
expressed  his  sorrow  at  his  child's  misconduct,  he  knelt,  and, 
putting  his  arm  around  the  offending  one,  he  implored  the 
Father  of  all  to  forgive  a  child  who  had  broken  His  commands 
by  refusing  to  obey  her  mother.  That  child  never  forgot  that 
prayer ;  nor  would  the  most  stubborn  heart  have  refused  to 
repent  of  a  sin,  punished,  not  in  anger,  but  in  such  sorrowful 
affection.  Penitence  was  expressed  before  leaving  him,  and 
his  kiss  seemed  to  seal  her  forgiveness  on  earth  and  in  heaven. 


REV.  MR.  ESTABROOK. 


Mr.  Estabrook,  formerly  a  clergyman  of  Athol,  was  well 
known  for  his  pleasant  turn  of  mind,  no  less  than  for  fervent, 
uriaffected  piety,  and  genuine  benevolence.  He  died  at  a  very 
advanced  age.  Towards  the  close  of  his  life,  a  proposition 
was  made  in  parish — or,  as  it  then  was,  in  town  meeting,  to 
Increase  his  salary,  to  an  amount  corresponding  with  the  in- 
creased expenses  of  living  and  the  growing  wealth  of  the  so- 
ciety. The  motion  was  in  a  fair  way  of  passing,  when,  to  the 
surprise  of  every  one,  the  old  gentleman  rose  and  begged  his 
friends  not  to  vote  a  larger  sum  for  him.  He  asked  it  as  a 
favour  of  the  parish.  Some  onp  inquired  if  it  was  not  the  fact, 
as  had  been  stated,  that  the  present  salary  was  insufficient  for 
his  support.     Mr.  Eistabrook  admitted  this,  but    begged  that 


324  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

they  would  not  vote  him  a  larger  sum.  His  friends  pressed 
around  him  to  inquire  the  reason,  which  he  declared  pecuHar, 
and  of  rather  a  private  nature.  On  being  pressed,  however, 
he  stated  his  inducement  to  the  course  he  had  taken.  He  de- 
clared that  he  was  opposed  to  voting  any  more  money,  because 
it  was  difficult  to  get  what  had  formerly  been  voted !  The 
hint  was  taken — the  increase  was  voted,  and,  what  was  better, 
promptly  paid. 


AN  ANXIOUS  PASTOR. 


During  the  closing  service,  one  Sabbath,  says  a  pastor,  my 
eyes  rested  on  a  lovely  youth.  I  approached  him,  and  ex- 
horted him  to  repentance  and  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
He  replied,  "I  am  not  ready  now,  but  in  two  weeks  I  am  re- 
solved to  seek  the  salvation  of  my  soul."  A  few  days  after, 
his  minister  was  summoned  to  visit  him  upon  a  bed  of  sick- 
ness. He  said  to  the  minister,  "  I  was  invited  to  the  Saviour 
at  the  meeting  of  the  Sabbath.  I  replied  that  I  was  not  ready 
then,  and  now  I  am  not  ready  to  die."  On  a  subsequent  visit 
the  dying  youth  exclaimed,  "  I  was  not  ready  to  seek  God  at 
the  meeting,  I  was  not  ready  to  die  when  the  message  came, 
and  now  I  am  not  ready  to  lie  down  in  hell !  My  two  weeks 
have  not  yet  elapsed,  when  I  hoped  to  have  made  my  peace 
with  God,  and  sickness,  death,  and  hell  have  overtaken  m<\ 
and  I  am  for  ever  lost." 


REV.    DR.    JUDSON,  825 


A  CLERGYMAN. 

A  GENTLEMAN  who  had  formerly  been  very  skeptical,  was 
one  day  met  by  a  clergyman  who  had  frequently  been  accus- 
tomed to  converse  with  him,  but  who  had  not  seen  him  for 
some  time.  The  clergyman  asked  him,  "  Well,  my  dear  sir, 
what  do  you  think  now  of  the  doctrine  of  the  resurrection?" 
The  former  skeptic  replied,  "Oh,  sir,  two  words  from  the 
apostle  Paul  conquered  me,  *Thou  fool.'  Do  you  see  this 
Bible,  taking  up  a  copy  of  the  Scriptures,  fastened  with  a  clasp, 
"  and  will  you  read  the  words  upon  the  clasp  which  shuts  it  ?" 

The  clergyman  read  what  was  deeply  engraven,  "Thou 
fool."  "There,"  said  his  friend,  "are  the  words  that  con- 
quered me ;  it  was  no  argument,  no  reasoning,  no  satisfying 
my  objections ;  but  God  convinced  me  that  I  was  a  fool ;  and 
henceforward  I  was  determined  I  would  have  my  Bible  clasped 
with  those  words,  and  would  never  again  come  to  the  considera- 
tion of  its  sacred  mysteries  but  through  their  medium.  I  will 
always  remember  that  I  am  a  fool,  and  that  God  only  is  wise." 

The  words,  "  Thou  fool !"  were  used,  both  by  the  apostle 
and  by  this  convert  to  his  doctrine,  to  express  the  unspeakable 
folly  of  man,  in  setting  up  his  own  pretended  wisdom  in  oppo- 
sition to  the  pure  and  perfect  wisdom  of  God. 


REV.  DR.  JUDSON. 


This  veteran  missionary  of  the  cross  of  Christ,  on  his  re- 
cent visit  to  Boston,  when  asked,  by  "an  old  disciple,"  "Do 
yon  think  the  prospect  bright  for  the  speedy  conversion  of  the 

hraihen?"  nobly  replied,  "As  bright  as  the  promises  of  God!" 

28 


326  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


A  GOOD  PASTOR. 

It  is  evident  that  some  persons  do  not  understand  the  senti- 
ment which  is  sometimes  advocated,  that  the  more  the  Chris- 
tian advances  in  holiness,  the  more  he  will  see  of  his  own 
sinfulness.  The  following  conversation  occurred  more  than 
fifteen  years  since,  between  a  pastor  and  a  lamb  of  his  flock. 
The  young  inquirer  said  to  his  experienced  teacher,  "  I  do  not 
fully  understand  what  you  preached  to-day.  You  observed, 
that  the  more  a  child  of  God  increases  in  holiness,  the  greater 
his  own  sinfulness  appears  in  his  view.  Is  the  man  really 
growing  worse  while  advancing  in  holiness?"  The  watchful 
pastor,  "  apt  to  teach,"  smiled,  and  thus  replied :  "  I  will 
illustrate  the  idea.  Suppose  a  dark  room,  which  for  a  long 
time  has  not  been  cleansed.  You  enter  it,  and  view  it  by 
moonlight ;  you  say  that  it  is  filthy.  More  light  is  intro- 
duced, and  more,  and  more.  During  this  process  of.  in- 
troducing more  light,  a  cleansing  process  is  going  forward. 
But,  though  much  filth  has  been  removed  since  you  began  to 
examine  the  room,  yet  it  now  appears  tenfold  more  filthy  than 
when  you  first  surveyed  it  by  mere  moonlight."  The  youth 
saw  and  felt  the  force  of  the  illustration ;  and  while  writing 
this,  he  distinctly  recollects  the  appearance  of  the  affectionate 
pastor  as  he  gave  it. 


A  MINISTER  IN  NEW  YORK. 


Some  few  years  since,  a  person  called  on  a  minister  in  New 
York,  requesting  him  to  go  without  delay  to  a  certain  house, 
to  visit  a  person  who  was  sick.  The  mmister  went,  and,  on 
entering  the  room  where  he  expected  to  find  the  sick  person, 


BISHOP    GRISWOLD.  327 

he  found  it  occupied  by  a  company  of  gamblers,  who  arose 
from  their  seats,  and,  in  a  very  peremptory  manner,  demanded 
why  he  came  there  ?  At  the  same  time,  two  or  three  of  them 
went  to  the  door  and  bolted  it,  while  the  others  surrounded  the 
minister,  demanding  the  reason  of  his  presence.  He  first 
offered  each  one  a  tract,  which  was  received ;  then  took  out 
his  Bible,  and  began  to  read;  and,  not  knowing  what  would 
follow,  fell  on  his  knees  and  raised  his  voice  in  prayer  to  Him 
who  delivered  Daniel  from  the  mouth  of  the  lions.  While  thus 
pouring  out  his  heart  to  God,  the  door  was  thrown  open,  and 
one  after  another  of  the  company  went  out,  till  he  was  left 
alone,  "  and  Jesus  standing  in  the  midst,"  by  his  Spirit,  to 
sustain  and  protect  him. 


BISHOP  GRISWOLD. 


During  the  residence  of  this  excellent  clergyman  in  Bristol, 
a  minister,  with  more  zeal  than  discretion,  became  impressed 
with  the  conviction  that  the  bishop  was  a  mere  formalist  in 
religion,  and  that  it  was  his  duty  to  go  and  warn  him  of  his 
danger,  and  exhort  him  to  '-'■jlee  from  the  ivraih  to  come.'''' 
Accordingly,  he  called  upon  the  bishop,  very  solemnly  made 
known  his  errand,  and  forthwith  entered  on  his  harangue. 
The  bishop  listened  in  silence  till  his  self-constituted  instructor 
had  closed  a  severely  denunciatory  exhortation,  and  then  in 
substance  replied  as  follows:  "My  dear  friend,  I  do  not  won- 
der that  they  who  witness  the  inconsistency  of  my  daily  walk, 
and  see  how  poorly  I  adorn  the  doctrine  of  God  my  Saviour, 
should  think  that  I  have  no  religion.  I  often  fear  for  myself 
that  such  is  the  case,  and  feel  very  grateful  to  you  for  giving 
me  this  warning."  The  reply  was  made  with  such  an  evi- 
dently unaffected  humility,  and  such  a  depth  of  feeling  and 


328  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

sincerity,  that  if  an  audible  voice  from  heaven  had  attested  the 
genuineness  of  his  Christian  character,  it  could  not  more  ef- 
fectually have  silenced  his  kindly  intending,  but  misjudging 
censor,  or  more  completely  have  disabused  him  of  his  false 
impression.  He  immediately  acknowledged  his  error,  begged 
the  bishop's  pardon,  and  ever  afterwards  looked  upon  him  as 
one  of  the  distinguished  lights  of  the  Christian  world. 


A  NEW  ENGLAND  CLERGYMAN. 

A  FARMER  of  good  substauce,  possessing  much  influence  in 
his  neighbourhood,  not  far  from  Boston,  had  not  for  a  long 
time  been  seen  at  church.  His  minister  was  deeply  grieved, 
and  called  to  remonstrate  with  the  farmer,  both  on  his  own 
account  and  on  account  of  the  pernicious  influence  of  his  ex- 
ample. The  farmer  heard  him  with  attention,  and  seemed 
penitent.  "  I  hope,  friend,"  said  the  good  pastor,  as  he  was 
leaving  him,  "  I  hope  I  shall  see  you  at  church  next  Sabbath  ?" 
The  farmer  looked  down  to  the  ground  in  an  attitude  of  deep 
thought ;  then  suddenly  raising  his  head,  with  a  cheerful  look, 
as  if  conscience  had  conquered,  replied  quickly,  "  Well,  V\l 
go ;  but,"  pausing  a  moment,  he  added,  "  yes,  I'll  go — or  I'll 
send  a  handy  Alas  i  how.  many,  in  different  ways,  evade  the 
duty  of  personal  religion  ! 


REV.    DR.    MERCER.  329 


REV.  DR    MERCER. 

The  late  Dr.  Mercer  seems  to  have  had  a  very  happy  talent 
of  so  conversing  with  disconsolate  Christians  as  to  lead  them 
to  rich  sources  of  consolation.  On  one  occasion,  a  good  man 
rode  twenty-five  miles  to  converse  with  him.  He  had  been  for 
more  than  twenty  years  a  member  of  a  Christian  church,  but  was 
exercised  with  great  darkness  and  sorrow  of  mind.  After  he 
had  told  his  sad  tale  of  woe  to  Dr.  M.,  he  wound  up  all  by 
saying,  "  I  would  not  for  a  thousand  worlds  say  that  I  am  a 
Christian."  "  Would  you,"  asked  Dr.  M.,  "  for  as  many 
worlds  say  that  you  are  not  a  Christian  ?"  "  No,  I.  would 
not."  "  Do  you  believe  that  the  devil  suggests  to  one  de- 
dfeived,  that  he  is  deceived,  and  that  he  strives  to  convince  him 
of  it?"  "  Certainly  not."  "Do  you  not  believe  that  he  often 
worries  the  Christian  by  such  suggestions,  persuading  him  that 
he  is  deceived,  and,  in  proof  of  it,  calls  to  his  mind  his  daily 
departure  from  the  paths  of  rectitude  and  purity  ?"  "  No  doubt 
of  it."  By  this  short  category,  and  by  narrating  some  of  his 
own  trials,  the  brother  was  greatly  relieved,  and  went  home 
with  a  light  heart. 


Another  brother,  who  had  not  been  long  in  the  church, 
while  reading  the  Scriptures  regularly  through,  was  greatly 
shocked  at  many  of  the  heinous  sins  of  the  saints  of  old,  par- 
ticularly some  of  the  actions  of  Lot  and  of  David.  He  in- 
quired within  himself,  how  could  holy  men  commit  such  deeds, 
and  could  the  vilest  sinners  do  worse?  He  became  almost 
convinced  that  religion  was  a  farce,  and  the  Scriptures  an  im- 
position. Under  these  circumstances,  he  obtained  an  interview 
with  Dr.  Mercer,  and  told  him  his  difficulties.  "  Why,"  said 
he  doctor,  "  if  the  Scriptures  had  recorded  none  but  virtuous 

28* 


330  THE    AMERICAN    CLEKGY. 

and  holy  actions  of  the  ancient  saints,  they  would  not  have 
met  my  case ;  but  they  give  an  honest  and  impartial  history, 
their  bad  and  their  good  acts,  and  from  their  weakness  I 
gather  strength."  The  brother  went  away  consoled,  and  was 
no  more  troubled  in  that  way. 


It  is  said  of  this  valued  minister,  that  he  presided  at  his 
church  conference  meetings  with  great  gravity  and  dignity, 
seldom  allowing  any  irregularity  to  pass  unreproved.  The 
clerk  of  one  of  his  churches  was  calling  over  the  names  of 
the  male  members,  preparatory  to  the  adjournment  of  the  con 
ference.  It  was  a  cold  day  and  a  cold  church.  The  members 
answered  to  their  names  in  such  a  hfeless  tone  of  voice,  that 
they  could  scarcely  be  heard ;  and,  in  some  instances,  the  lan- 
guid answer  would  not  come  until  the  name  had  been  two  or 
three  times  repeated.  The  clerk,  however,  patiently  perse, 
vered  in  his  task,  attentively  listening  for  answers  till  he  had 
finished  the  list.  The  worthy  pastor,  whose  head  all  the  while 
had  been  hanging  very  low,  arose  from  his  seat  with  much 
concern  on  his  countenance,  and  gravely  said,  "  Well,  brethren, 
if  your  religion  is  as  weak  as  your  voices,  it  is  weak  indeed  : 
let  us  pray."  The  reproof  was  deeply  felt,  and  during  the 
prayer,  which  was  the  concluding  service,  many  indications 
of  deep  feeling  were  manifested.  Its  good  effects  were  seen 
for  a  long  time  afterwards. 


A    CLERGYMAN    IN    PHILADELPHIA.  ,  331 


A  CLERGYMAN  IN  PHILADELPHIA. 

I  ONCE  heard  a  little  incident,  said  to  have  occurred  to  a 
venerable  clergyman  of  Philadelphia  city,  now  no  more,  but 
who,  if  named,  would  be  instantly  recognised  as  familiar  to 
many. 

It  occurred  some  thirty  years  since,  at  which  time  our  reve- 
rend friend  was  called  upon  to  officiate  at  the  nuptials  of  the 
only  child  and  daughter  of  a  wealthy  retired  merchant,  then 
residing  a  few  miles  in  the  country. 

The  time  which  had  been  appointed  for  the  wedding,  proved 
to  be  a  chilly,  rainy  day,  toward  the  latter  end  of  the  month 
of  September.  The  rain  having  commenced  falling  on  the 
night  previous,  continued  throughout  the  day.  The  roads 
were  in  a  miserable  condition;  the  rain  fallen  upon  them, 
still  heavy  with  dust,  rendered  them  almost  impassable  in  mud. 
This  was  any  thing  but  a  pleasant  prospect  for  the  doctor ;  but 
weddings  must  not  be  delayed,  nor  do  clergymen  generally  in 
the  least  desire  it ;  they  entertain  a  peculiar  partiality  for  them; 
they  find  pleasure  in  uniting  "  two  fond  hearts,"  and  profit  in 
it.  So,  barring  the  weather,  the  doctor  had  no  cause  to  com- 
plain, and,  rain  or  shine,  he  was  bound  to  go.  Accordingly, 
a  horse  and  chaise  were  procured,  and  the  doctor,  fully 
equipped  for  the  journey,  was  soon  on  his  way  to  the  scene  of 
bridal  festivity.  At  the  country  mansion,  all  was  in  readiness 
for  his  coming ;  and  when  he  reached  there,  some  time  after 
nightfall,  he  found  the  bride  and  her  lover  already  waiting  for 
him.  It  was  not  necessary  to  lose  any  time,  and  the  doctor 
was  not  long  in  entering  upon  his  appropriate  duties.  The 
necessary  preliminaries  being  speedily  arranged,  within  a  spa- 
cious hall,  richly  ornamented,  and  in  the  presence  of  a  gay 
and  numerous  company,  the  doctor  pronounced  the  nuptial 
ceremony. 


332  Tlii:    A31ERICAN    CLERGY. 

The  scene  was  unusually  affecting,  even  to  the  doctor  him- 
self. The  bride,  as  we  have  said,  was  an  only  child,  and, 
aside  from  her  education  and  accomplishments,  upon  which 
every  care  and  attention  had  been  bestowed,  she  possessed 
qualities  of  the  heart  which  endeared  her  to  all.  She  was 
amiable  and  affectionate ;  and  these  traits,  combined  with  sin- 
cere and  early  piety,  had  won  the  reverend  old  gentleman's 
highest  friendship  and  esteem.  To  one  thus  interested  in  the 
happiness  of  a  bride,  the  joy  attendant  upon  her  nuptials  is 
never  unmingled  with  tender  emotions ;  and  tears  of  parental 
sympathy  trickled  down  the  pious  countenance  of  the  old  gen- 
tleman, as,  at  the  conclusion  of  the  ceremony,  he  invoked  the 
smiles  of  Heaven  for  the  future  happiness  of  the  newly  wedded. 
Nor  was  he  alone  in  these  feelings :  a  solemn  stillness  for  a 
while  pervaded  the  whole  company,  yet,  like  a  transient  cloud 
in  the  morning,  it  was  soon  dispelled,  leaving  all  bright  and 
cheerful  as  before. 

Shortly  after  the  ceremony  was  over,  the  doctor  prepared 
himself  for  home.  So,  taking  an  affectionate  leave  of  the 
bride  and  her  happy  partner,  he  ordered  his  vehicle.  Not  a 
word  had  yet  been  hinted  to  him  concerning  a  marriage  fee : 
as  for  himself,  he  was  too  much  absorbed  in  reflection  to  have 
given  a  thought  upon  the  matter.  The  "  fee,"  however,  such 
as  it  was,  had  not  been  forgotten ;  but  Mr.  E.,  the  bride's 
father,  after  accompanying  and  assisting  him  into  his  chaise, 
placed  in  his  hands  a  little  package,  containing,  as  he  said,  a 
"  present"  for  himself,  and  a  "  little  notion"  for  his  wife.  The 
doctor,  presuming,  of  course,  that  it  was  his  fee,  and  no  doubt 
a  rich  one,  which  was  thus  modestly  tendered,  accompanied 
with  some  small  token  for  his  wife,  thanked  Mr.  E.  accord- 
ingly; and  the  courtesies  of  the  night  being  exchanged,  the 
doctor  lost  no  time  in  regaining  his  home. 

Imagine,  now,  the  old  gentleman,  after  two  hours'  hard  ride, 
through  mud  and  rain,  well  drenched  and  bespattered,  sitting 


A    CLERGYMAN    IN    PHILADELPHIA.  333 

by  his  fireside,  opening,  with  the  eager  assistance  of  his  wife, 
the  above  described  package.  Imagine,  also,  if  possible,  the 
surprise  and  disappointment  of  both,  as,  contrary  to  the  lowest 
expectations  of  either,  in  lieu  of  a  fifty  dollar  note,  and  a  rich 
laced  cap,  the  package  was  delivered  of  a  plain  neckcloth  and 
an  unpretending  pair  of  gloves. 

Now,  fortunately  for  our  friend  the  doctor,  of  all  things  he 
knew  best  how  to  brook  disappointment ;  it  is  characteristic 
of  the  profession  in  general.  Hence  his  share  of  the  disap- 
pointment was  soon  smothered,  and  he  contented  himself  with 
the  reflection  that  his  services  had  been  well  repaid  already,  in 
having  been  rendered  to  one  whom  he  felt  most  happy  in 
serving. 

Not  so  with  his  wife ;  like  the  most  of  her  sex,  ay,  and  of 
her  kind,  disappointments  were  not  in  the  least  agreeable  to 
her.  Besides,  on  this  occasion,  as  she  was  personally  inte- 
rested, hers  was  by  no  means  small.  The  marriage  of  Miss 
E.  had  long  been  in  contemplation ;  and  as  long  had  the  doc- 
tor's wife  been  anticipating  a  rich  fee  for  her  husband,  which, 
according  to  a  good-natured  agreement  existing  between  them, 
in  relation  to  the  above  marriage,  they  were  to  divide  equally ; 
and  no  marvel  is  it  that  she  had  magnified  her  share  into 
"  something  very  handsome." 

For  some  time  she  was  speechless  with  vexation  and  disap- 
pointment. She  knew  not  how  to  vent  her  feelings ;  she  felt 
hurt  as  well  as  vexed  and  disappointed. 

"  Certainly,  I  am  greatly  at  a  loss  to  account  for  this,"  at 
length  she  exclaimed,  recovering  herself;  "  surely,  I  would 
never  have  expected  such  conduct  from  Mr.  E." 

"  Tut !  tut !  my  dear,"  returned  the  doctor ;  "  I  am  sure  it's 
not  worth  while  grieving  about  it." 

"  Indeed,  I  think  it  is,"  rejoined  his  wife,  somewhat  vexed, 
and  tossing,  at  the  same  time,  the  gloves  from  her  ;  "  I'm  sure 


334  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

your  ride  through  mud  and  rain  was  itself  well  worth  ten  times 
as  much." 

*'  Well,  well,"  said  the  doctor,  "  I'm  very  well  satisfied,  and 
I  see  no  reason  why  you  should  be  otherwise."  So  saying,  he 
was  in  the  act  of  spreading  out  the  neckcloth,  to  examine  its 
dimensions,  when  lo !  a  hundred  dollar  note  dropped  upon  the 
floor. 

If,  by  the  touch  of  a  magic  wand,  the  doctor  had  converted 
the  cambric  mto  a  silken  sash,  the  surprise  of  his  wife  could 
not  have  exceeded  what  she  now  felt.  She  knew  not  what 
first  to  say.  No  time,  however,  was  lost  in  re-obtaining  the 
gloves ;  and  if  her  surprise  was  great  before,  it  was  in  no 
degree  diminished,  when  a  ten  dollar  note  was  discovered 
snugly  stuffed  away  in  each  thumb  and  finger. 

"  My  patience !  did  you  ever !"  shouted  the  old  lady,  in 
ecstacy. 

"  Ha  !  ha  !"  laughed  the  doctor. 

But  let  us  drop  the  curtain  upon  the  happy  doctor  and  his 
wife. 


REV.  MR.  F. 


While  the  Rev.  Mr.  F.  was  pastor  of  a  Presbyterian 
church  in  the  state  of  New  York,  he  enjoyed  the  happiness 
of  witnessing  several  very  delightful  revivals  among  his  peo- 
ple. One  old  man,  however,  withstood  all,  and,  by  the  per- 
version of  truth,  seemed  to  seal  the  doom  of  his  eternal  misery. 
He  had  used  to  say,  that  as  he  could  not  convert  himself,  it 
was  not  his  fault  if  he  perished.  During  the  last  revival  Mr. 
F.  enjoyed,  he  called  at  the  house  of  this  old  man,  to  converst; 
and  to  pray  with  his  family,  and  was  going  away  without 
speaking  to  the  old  man  himself.     Perceiving,  however,  that 


A    FAITHFUL    MINISTER.  335 

he  had  something  to  say,  Mr.  F.  listened  to  him,  and  found  it 
was  pretty  much  the  same  tale  as  usual.  Mr.  F.  at  length 
.turned  to  him,  and,  with  somewhat  of  a  severe  tone,  said, 
"  Jesus  Christ  demands  to  be  received  by  you,  and  proposes 
himself  as  your  Mediator  with  the  eternal  God ;  but  you  con- 
tinue to  reject  him,  and  so  you  must  perish  for  ever.  Good 
bye."  The  old  man's  heart  was  broken — he  wept  over  his 
sins — sought  for  mercy,  and  found  it  through  Christ  Jesus.  In 
old  age,  he  became  the  humble,  child-like  follower  of  the  Son 
of  God. 


A  FAITHFUL  MINISTER. 


Professors  of  religion  have  never  yet  felt,  as  they  should 
do,  that  their  property  is  the  Lord's,  given  to  them  to  sustain 
his  cause.  Hence  they  talk  about  giving  theii-  property  for 
the  support  of  the  gospel ;  as  though  the  cause  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  were  to  be  supported  as  an  act  of  alms-giving.  A  mer- 
chant, in  the  state  of  New  York,  was  in  the  habit  of  paying  a 
large  part  of  his  pastor's  salary.  One  of  the  members  of  the 
church  was  relating  the  fact  to  a  minister  from  a  distance,  and 
speaking  of  the  sacrifice  which  this  merchant  was  making. 
At  this  moment,  the  merchant  came  in.  "  Brother,"  said  the 
minister,  "  you  are  a  merchant ;  suppose  you  employ  a  clerk 
to  sell  goods,  and  a  schoolmaster  to  teach  your  children,  and 
you  order  your  clerk  to  pay  your  schoolmaster  out  of  the 
store,  such  an  amount  for  his  services  in  teaching.  Now, 
suppose  your  clerk  gave  out  that  he  had  to  pay  this  school- 
master his  salary,  and  should  speak  of  the  sacrifices  that  he 
was  making  to  do  it;  what  would  you  say  to  this?"  "Why," 
said  the  merchant,  "  I  should  say  it  was  ridiculous."  "Well," 
said  the  minister,  "  God  employs  you  to  sell  goods  as  his  clerk, 


336  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

and  your  minister  he  employs  to  teach  his  children,  and  re- 
quires you  to  pay  the  salary  out  of  the  income  of  that  store. 
Now,  do  you  call  this  your  sacrifice,  and  say  that  you  are 
making  a  great  sacrifice  to  pay  this  minister's  salary?  No  ; 
you  are  just  as  much  bound  to  sell  goods  for  God,  as  he  is  to 
preach  for  Him." 


A  MINISTER  IN  BOSTON 


A  MINISTER  in  Boston  paid  a  visit  to  a  lady  of  his  acquaint- 
ance, who  was  newly  married,  afnd  who  was  attired  in  the 
modern  fashion,  with  bare  arms.  After  the  usual  compliments, 
he  familiarly  said, 

"  I  hope  you  have  got  a  good  husband,  madam  ?" 
"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  she,  "  and  a  good  man,  too." 
"  I  don't  know  what  to  say  about  his  goodness,"  added  the 
minister,  rather  bluntly,  "  for  my  Bible  teaches  me  that  a  good 
man  should  clothe  his  wife,  but  he  allows  you  to  go  half 
naked." 


TWO  CLERGYMEN. 


Two  very  gayly  dressed  ladies,  being  in  company  with  a 
clergyman,  on  his  being  informed  that  they  were  professed 
Christians,  were  kindly,  but  very  solemnly  reproved  by  him 
for  their  extravagance  in  dress.  He  reminded  them  that  God 
had  commanded  that  "  women  adorn  themselves  in  modest  ap- 
parel, with  shamefacedness  and  sobriety  ;  not  with  broidered 
hair,  or  gold,  or  pearls,  or  costly  array,  but  (which  becometh 
women  professing  godliness)  with  good  works ;  whose  adorn- 


REV.    JOHN    GANO.  837 

ing,  let  it  not  be  that  outward  adorning  of  plaiting  the  hair, 
and  the  wearing  of  gold,  or  of  putting  on  of  apparel ;  but  let 
it  be  the  hidden  man  of  the  heart,  in  that  which  is  not  cor- 
ruptible, even  the  ornament  of  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit,  which 
in  the  sight  of  God  is  of  great  price."  They  were  somewhat 
offended,  and,  with  the  hope  of  quieting  their  consciences,  went 
10  another  clergyman,  and  asked  him  if  lie  thought  there  was 
any  harm  in  their  wearing  feathers  in  their  hats,  with  artificial 
flowers,  dz;c.  He  gravely  replied,  "  There  is  no  harm  in  fea- 
thers  and  Jiowers.  If  you  have  in  your  hearts  the  ridiculous 
vanity  to  wish  to  be  thought  pretty,  you  may  as  well  hang  out 
the  sign.,  and  let  every  one  know  what  is  your  ruling  passion." 


REV.  JOHN  GANO. 

This  gentleman  warmly  espoused  the  cause  of  his  country 
in  the  contest  with  Great  Britain,  and  at  the  commencement  of 
the  war  joined  the  standard  of  freedom  in  the  capacity  of  chap- 
lain. His  preaching,  in  which  he  was  inferior  only  to  White- 
'  field,  greatly  contributed  to  impart  a  determined  spirit  to  the 
soldiers ;  nor  was  his  private  intercourse  less  adapted  to  use- 
fulness. When  a  lieutenant,  after  uttering  some  profane  ex- 
pressions, accosted  him,  saying,  "  Good  morning.  Dr.  Good 
Man  ;"  he  replied,  "  You  pray  early  this  morning."  The  man 
thus  reproved  answered,  "I  beg  your  pardon."  "Oh!"  re- 
torted Mr.  G.,  "  I  cannot  pardon  you ;  carry  your  case  to 
God."  Of  such  a  man  we  do  not  wonder  to  read  the  testi- 
mony, "  The  careless  and  irreverent  stood  arrested  and  awed 
before  him,  and  the  most  insensible  were  made  to  feel." 


29 


338  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


REV.  T.  P.  BENEDICT, 


A  MAN  having  heard' the  late  Rev.  Thomas  P.  Benedict  preach 
a  sermon,  the  object  of  which  was  to  show  that  salvation  is  en- 
tirely  of  grace,  said  to  him,  "If  what  you  have  preached  is 
true,  what  is  it  my  duty  to  do  ?" 

"  It  is  your  duty  to  believe  it."' 

"  What  else  is  it  my  duty  to  do  ?" 

"  It  is  your  duty  to  love  it.  You  ought  surely  to  love  the 
truth." 

"What  else  is  it  my  duty  to  do  1" 

"  I  fear  I  have  told  you  now  more  than  you  will  ever  do. 
If  you  will  do  these  things,  you  will  find  no  difficulty  in  regard 
to  any  other  part  of  your  duty.     It  will  be  very  plain." 


AN  UNKNOWN  PREACHER. 


The  spontaneous  preference  which  all  persons,  free  from 
prejudice,  are  ready  to  yield,  other  things  being  equal,  to  a 
preacher  who  has  had  the  advantages  of  education,  may  be 
illustrated  by  the  following  incident : — 

In  the  vicinity  of  one  of  our  literary  institutions,  where 
several  young  Baptist  ministers  were  pursuing  their  studies,  a 
church,  whose  members  were  violently  prejudiced  against  col- 
lege-learned ministers,  had  passed  a  vote  that  they  would  ad- 
mit no  one  from  the  neighbouring  institution  into  their  pulpit. 
Shortly  after  this  they  sent  to  a  minister  then  residing:  near  the 
institution,  whom  they  did  not  know,  but  with  whose  preach- 
ing they  supposed  from  information  they  should  be  pleased. 
The  minister  agreed  to  attend  and  preach  for  them,  on  the  day 
named  in  their  request.     Circumstances,  however,  prevented 


REV.    SAMUEL    HARRIS.  339 

his  going  in  person  ;  he  therefore  engaged  a  young  ministering 
brother,  who  had  nearly  completed  his  studies  at  the  institu- 
tion of  which  he  was  a  member,  to  go  in  his  stead.  This 
young  brother  was  unknown  to  any  of  the  church.  He  came 
to  the  place  at  the  hour  appointed ;  and,  with  a  fluent  and  rea- 
dy utterance,  with  a  warm  heart  and  fervent  spirit,  and  with  a 
well-furnished  mind,  he  delivered  his  Master's  message.  The 
members  of  the  church,  who  supposed  all  this  while  that  the 
preacher  was  the  individual  for  whom  they  had  sent,  and  who 
had  never  been  in  a  literary  institution,  were  delighted.  Their 
hearts  were  opened.  They  pressed  him  to  visit  them  again, 
to  which  he  consented.  In  the  mean  time,  they  ascertained 
who  their  preacher  was,  that  he  was  a  member  of  the  neigh- 
1)ourinsj  institution.  But  they  had  committed  themselves ;  he 
had  gained  their  hearts,  and  the  approbation  of  their  judgment. 
It  was  the  end  of  their  prejudice  against  learning  in  a  minister. 
After  this  they  were  ready  to  admit  and  act  on  the  principle, 
that  learning  cannot  make  a  minister,  but  that  it  can  greatly 
increase  his  power  of  being  useful. 


REV.  SAMUEL  HARRIS. 


This  excellent  minister,  who  laboured  in  the  last  century, 
was  called  the  Apostle  of  Virginia.  In  his  power  over  the 
affections  of  his  hearers,  he  was  thought  to  be  equal  to  White- 
field.  The  Virginians  say  that  he  seemed  to  pour  forth  streams 
of  lightning  from  his  eyes.  The  following  anecdotes  may 
illustrate  his  character.  Meeting  a  pardoned  criminal,  who 
showed  him  his  pardon  received  at  the  gallows,  he  asked, 
"  Have  you  shown  it  to  Jesus  Christ  ?"  The  reply  was,  "  No, 
Mr.  Harris,  I  want  you  to  do  it  for  me."  Accordingly,  the 
good  man  dismounted  and  kneeled,  and  with  the  pardon  in  one 


340  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

hand,  and  the  other  on  the  offender's  head,  rendered  thanks 
and  prayed  for  pardon  from  God.  He  once  requested  a  debtor 
to  pay  him  in  wheat,  as  he  had  a  good  crop ;  but  the  man  re- 
plied that  he  did  not  intend  to  pay  until  he  was  sued.  Unwill- 
ing to  leave  preaching  to  attend  a  vexatious  suit,  he  wrote  a 
receipt  in  full  and  presented  it  to  the  man,  saying  he  had  sued 
him  in  the  court  of  heaven ;  and  that  he  should  leave  the 
affair  with  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church,  with  whom  he  might 
settle  another  day.  The  man  soon  loaded  his  wagon  and  sent 
him  the  wheat. 


REV.  DR.  LAIDLIE. 


Shortly  after  the  arrival  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Laidlie,  one  of 
the  early  emigrants  from  Europe  to  New  York,  he  was  thus 
accosted  by  some  excellent  old  Dutch  people,  at  the  close  of  a 
prayer-meeting :  "  Ah,  Domine !"  (the  title  which  the  Dutch, 
in  their  affection,  give  to  their  pastors,)  "  we  offered  up  many 
an  earnest  prayer  in  Dutch  for  your  coming  among  us ;  and 
truly  the  Lord  has  heard  us  in  English^  and  sent  you  to  us !" 


AN  AGED  MINISTER. 


A  VENERABLE  minister  at  H —  preached  a  sermon  on  the 
subject  of  eternal  punishment.  On  the  next  day,  it  was  agreed 
among  some  thoughtless  young  men,  that  one  of  them  should 
go  to  him,  and  endeavour  to  draw  him  into  a  dispute,  with  the 
design  of  making  a  jest  of  him  and  of  his  doctrine.  The  wag 
accordingly  went,  was  introduced  into  the  minister's  study,  and 


REV.    DR.    STANFORD.  341 

commenced  the  conversation  by  saying,  "  I  believe  there  is  a 
small  dispute  between  you  and  me,  sir,  and  I  thought  I  would 
call  this  morning  and  try  to  settle  it."  "  Ha  !"  said  the  clergy- 
man, "what  is  it?"  "Why,"  replied  the  wag,  "you  say  that 
the  wicked  will  go  into  everlasting  punishment,  and  I  do  not 
think  that  they  will."  "  Oh,  if  that  is  all,"  answered  the  mi- 
nister, "  there  is  no  dispute  between  you  and  me.  If  you  turn 
to  Matt.  XXV.  46,  you  will  find  that  the  dispute  is  between  you 
and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  I  advise  you  to  go  immediately 
and  settle  it  with  him." 


REV.  DR.  STANFORD. 


It  is  every  way  important  that  Christian  ministers  should 
secure  the  love  of  young  persons.  The  late  Rev.  Dr.  Stan- 
ford, of  New  York,  always  did  this  in  a  very  eminent  degree. 
Though  the  peculiar  gravity  and  dignity  of  his  appearance 
was  such  as  to  preclude  rather  than  to  invite  juvenile  fami- 
liarity, yet  scarcely  any  other  man  was  so  universally  a  favour- 
ite among  children  as  "Father  Stanford."  One  little  boy, 
the  son  of  a  clergyman,  was  asked  whom  he  liked  best  as  a 
preacher.  "  Oh,"  said  he,  "  I  like  old  Father  Stanford  best, 
because  he  is  a  very  good  man,  and  he  speaks  out,  so  that  I 
can  understand  him." 


In  their  intercourse  with  their  friends,  the  ministers  of  Christ 
often  gain  instruction  as  well  as  give  it.  So  it  occurred  to  Dr. 
S.  After  having  once  preached  to  the  inmates  of  the  state 
prison  of  New  York,  he  was  passing  through  the  middle  hall, 
to  visit  the  sick  prisoners  in  the  hospital,  when  Mr.  Hauman, 
a  foreigner  by  birth,  and  one  of  the  keepers,  stood  at  the  back- 

29* 


342  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

door  with  the  key  in  his  hand,  and  pleasantly  offered  him  a 
pinch  of  snuff.  After  the  usual  salutation,  the  following  dia- 
logue ensued : — 

"  Sir,  wot  use  you  come  here  to  visit  dis  vicked  people  ?" 
"  My  heavenly  Master  has  made  it  my  duty  to  visit  the  sick, 
and  especially  those  who  are  in  prison." 

"  Den,  let  me  ask  you,  vot  use  it  be  for  de  rain  to  come 
down  upon  de  ocean  ? — de  sea  be  full  enough  of  vater  vidout  it." 
"  I  am  somewhat  surprised  at  the  intention  of  your  question." 
"  Sir,  I  vill  tell  you ;  dere  be  von  ship  go  along  'pon  de  sea, 
vich  be  vant  of  vater,  and  de  sailors  dey  be  ready  to  die  ob 
dirst ;  dey  no  drink  de  vater  out  de  ocean.  By  and  bye  dey 
see  cloud,  and  de  rain  begin  to  come  down ;  den  de  sailors 
spread  deir  sails  on  de  deck ;  dey  catch  de  rain  vater ;  dey 
do  drink,  and  den  go  on  lifely.  So  you  come  to  dese  poor 
wretches — you  spread  de  sail — de  rains  ob  Got's  blessing  come 
down,  and  den  dey  drink  and  be  glad.  So,  sir,  I  vill  now 
open  de  door,  an  you  may  spread  your  sail."  Dr.  S.  says  in 
his  diary,  "  Thanking  Mr.  H.  for  his  remarks,  I  passed  through 
to  the  hospital,  with  a  design  to  spread  my  sails  of  instruction 
and  prayer,  in  the  pleasing  hope  that  some  mercy-drops  from 
above  might  descend  to  refresh  the  souls  of  the  poor  prisoners. 
I  have  often  indulged  pleasing  reflections  on  this  little  incident, 
as  conveying  to  me  valuable  instruction.  For,  as  the  mariner 
can  only  spread  the  sail,  it  is  the  Lord  alone  that  can  raise  the 
wind,  or  give  the  gentle  rain ;  so  I  can  only  spread  the  gospel 
sail  of  instruction,  and  wait  for  drops  of  mercy  from  heaven." 


This  eminent  clergyman,  in  the  discharge  of  his  official 
duties,  had  once  closed  his  sermon  to  the  prisoners,  in  New 
York,  when  one  of  them,  familiarly  called  "Ned  Craig,"  for- 
formerly  a  lawyer,  was,  at  his  own  particular  request,  per- 


REV.    DR.    STANFORD.  343 

milted  to  propound  a  doctrinal  question  to  the  preacher. 
Among  the  individuals  present,  were  several  prisoners  who 
formerly  ranked  high  in  the  learned  professions,  and  one  who 
had  occupied  the  chair  of  professor  of  languages  in  a  uni- 
versity. 

"  Pray,"  asked  Ned,  "  how  can  you  reconcile  the  general 
invitations  of  the  gospel  with  the  doctrine  of  a  particular 
election  ?" 

Dr.  Stanford,  turning  to  these  present,  replied,  "  These  gen- 
tlemen know,  that  it  is  not  customary  to  teach  children  a^b- 
struse  doctrines  in  any  science,  until  they  have  first  learned 
their  grammar.  I  am  no  polemic,  but  preach  to  you  the  plain 
gospel ;  but  you  must  learn  the  A.  B.  C.  of  divinity  before  I 
shall  attempt  to  explain  the  subject  of  your  inquiry." 

This  pungent  reply  to  an  impertinent  question,  propounded 
not  with  a  view  to  improvement,  but  for  the  purpose  of  embar- 
rassing the  preacher,  afforded  great  satisfaction  to  the  other 
prisoners.  ^ 


How  awful  are  the  scenes  which  the  Christian  minister  is 
sometimes  called  to  witness ;  at  once  reminding  him  of  the 
dreadful  consequences  of  sin,  and  rousing  all  his  energies  to 
action  !  Dr.  Stanford  was  once  travelling  through  New  Jersey 
in  the  stage.  When  they  stopped  at  Plainfield,  the  driver  in- 
formed the  company  that,  a  short  distance  further  on  the  road, 
an  intoxicated  man  had,  on  the  preceding  night,  murdered  his 
two  sons,  his  wife,  and  himself.  As  the  stage  had  to  pass  by 
the  door,  the  passengers  insisted  on  stopping  at  the  house,  and 
requested  Dr.  S.  to  accompany  them.  It  was  one  of  those 
neat  little  cottages  which  now  and  then  attract  the  admiring 
gaze  of  the  traveller,  and  seemed,  from  the  silence  that  pre- 
vailed, to  be  an  abode  of  blessedness  and  of  peace.  But,  alas ! 
it  was  the  silence  of  death  that  reigned  within  its  blood-stained 


344  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

walls.  On  entering  the  front  room  on  the  lower  floor,  they 
found  a  table  plentifully  spread  on  the  preceding  evening  for 
the  family  repast.  Here  was  every  thing  to  secure  content- 
ment and  domestic  comfort ;  but  the  demon  of  intemperance 
had  entered  the  enclosure.  As  they  ascended  to  the  room  im- 
mediately above,  they  beheld  one  of  those  awful  spectacles, 
from  which,  with  instinctive  horror,  the  heart  unsteeled  by 
crime  involuntarily  recoils.  In  the  cradle  lay  a  lovely  little 
boy,  about  eight  years  old,  murdered  in  a  shocking  manner ; 
and  on  the  floor,  at  a  short  distance  from  him,  and  covered 
with  wounds  and  blood,  lay  his  brother,  about  ten  years  of 
age.  The  unhappy  mother  of  these  victims  of  a  father's  rage, 
was  found  in  the  back  parlour,  to  which,  it  is  probable,  she 
had  fled  for  safety,  but  was  there  stabbed  to  the  heart,  by  the 
hand  of  him  who  had  vowed  at  the  altar  to  love  and  protect 
her.  Near  the  gory  bosom  of  the  martyred  woman  was  seen 
the  ghastly  corpse  of  the  sanguinary  monster.  After  perpe- 
trating the  diabolical  crime  of  murdering  his  unoffending 
family,  it  was  supposed  that  he  loaded  his  rifle,  and  receiving 
the  muzzle  into  his  mouth,  deliberately  discharged  its  contents, 
by  which  one  half  of  his  head  was  entirely  blown  away,  and 
the  barrel  of  the  gun  severed  from  the  stock.  The  apartments 
were  literally  a  human  slaughter-house,  where  death  reigned 
in  undisturbed  dominion.  This  tragic  scene  closed  the  lips  of 
the  beholders  in  silence,  and  astonishment  seemed  to  have  pa- 
ralyzed them.  No  one  was  able  to  give  utterance  to  the  deep 
and  oppressive  feelings  of  the  heart,  and  the  company  retired, 
increasingly  convinced  that  great  indeed  is  the  depravity  of 
man. 


The  biographer  of  Dr.  Stanford  records  his  interviews  with 
many  dying  persons.     The  following  is  very  instructive : — 
This  morning  I  was  requested  to  visit  a  man,  supposed  to 


REV.    DR.    STANFORD.  345 

be  near  death.  After  tenderly  inquiring  about  the  state  of  his 
mind,  he  replied,  "It  is  very  easy— I  know  that  there  is  one 
God — I  believe  that  there  is  a  future  state — I  believe  God, 
when  I  die,  will  take  my  poor  soul — I  believe  all  these."  I 
asked,  "  Do  you  know  that  you  are  a  sinner,  and  that  you 
need  mercy?"  "  Oh,  we  are  all  sinners."  I  answered  him, 
that  God  could  not  save  him  at  the  expense  of  divine  justice ; 
that  we  both  stood  in  need  of  a  Saviour;  that  God  had  in 
mercy  given  his  dear  Son,  whose  blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin ; 
and  that  there  was  none  other  name  given  under  heaven, 
whereby  we  may  be  saved,  but  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus ; 
who  is,  therefore,  the  only  Saviour.  To  my  great  astonish- 
ment, this  man  replied,  "  I  don't  know  any  thing  about  him." 
"  Then,"  I  replied,  "  it  is  high  time  that  you  should  know  him. 
It  is,  indeed,  our  encouragement  that  this  Jesus  is  able  and 
willing  to  save  to  the  uttermost  all  who  come  unto  God  by 
him ;  and  it  becomes  you,  under  your  circumstances,  to  pray 
to  him  for  mercy."  I  was  equally  surprised  at  his  answer : 
"  I  never  prayed  in  my  life."  I  thought  it  my  duty  solemnly 
to  warn  him  of  his  danger.     After  which,  I  prayed. 

At  four  o'clock,  I  ordered  the  coachman  to  put  me  down  at 
the  hospital-gate,  and  I  went  into  the  sick  man's  room ;  but, 
what  was  my  astonishment,  as  I  looked  around,  to  find  both 
the  man  and  the  bed  removed.  "  Nurse,  what  have  you  done 
with  the  patient  ?"  "  He  is  in  the  dead-house ;  he  died  at 
twelve  o'clock."  "How  did  he  die?"  Instead  of  giving  mo 
a  direct  reply,  she  told  me,  that  soon  after  I  left  him,  in  the 
morning,  two  of  his  friends  came  to  visit  him,  who  informed 
her  that  he  was  a  deist,  and  had  lived  a  very  irregular  life. 
"  But,  nurse,"  I  said,  "  you  do  not  answer  my  question ;  how 
(lid  he  die  ?"  She  replied,  "  Sir,  when  he  knew  he  was  going, 
he  cried  loudly  enough  to  Jesus  Christ  to  save  him  :  he  died  a 
coward,  and,  with  his  last  breath,  renounced  his  former  infi- 
delity."    "  Men  may  live  fools,  but  fools  they  cannot  die." 


346  THE    AMERICAN    CLEKGY. 


A  VILLAGE  CLERGYMAN. 


An  active  and  skilful  young  minister,  while  engaged  under 
circumstances  of  the  most  promising  kind  in  the  village  of 

J ,  was  told  of  a  miller  who,  with  more  than  usual  pro- 

faneness,  had  repelled  every  attempt  to  approach  him  on  the 
subject  of  religion,  and  had  discouraged  the  hopes  and  efforts 
of  the  few  serious  persons  in  his  vicinity.  Among  other  prac- 
tices of  sinful  daring,  he  uniformly  kept  his  windmill,  the  most 
striking  object  in  the  hamlet,  going  on  the  Sabbath.  In  a 
little  time,  the  minister  determined  to  make  an  effort  for  the 
benefit  of  the  hopeless  man.  He  undertook  the  office  of  going 
for  his  flour,  the  next  time,  himself.  "A  fine  mill,"  said  he, 
as  the  miller  adjusted  his  sack  to  receive  the  flour;  "a  fine 
mill,  indeed ;  one  of  the  most  complete  I  have  ever  seen." 
This  was  nothing  more  than  just — the  m.iller  had  heard  it  a 
thousand  times  before ;  and  would  firmly  have  thought  it, 
though  he  had  never  heard  it  once :  but  his  skill  and  judgment 
were  still  gratified  by  this  new  testimony,  and  his  feelings  con- 
ciliated, even  towards  the  minister.  "  But,  oh  !"  continued  his 
customer,  after  a  little  pause,  "  there  is  one  defect  in  it !" 
"What  is  that?"  carelessly  asked  the  m.iller.  "A  very  vseri- 
ous  defect,  too."  "Eh!"  replied  the  miller,  turning  up  his 
face.  "A  defect  that  is  likely  to  counterbalance  all  its  advan- 
tages." "Well,  what  is  it?"  said  the  miller,  standing  straight 
up,  and  looking  the  minister  in  the  face.  He  went  on:  "A 
defect  which  is  likely  to  ruin  the  mill."  "What  is  it?"  re- 
joined the  miller.  "And  will  one  day  no  doubt  destroy  the 
owner."  "  And  can't  you  say  it  out  ?"  exclaimed  the  impa- 
tient miller.  "  It  goes  on  the  Sabbath  !"  pronounced  the  mi- 
nister, in  a  firm,  solemn,  and  monitory  tone.  The  astonished 
man  stood  blank  and  thunderstruck  ;  and  remained  meek  and 
submissive  under  a  remonstance  and  exhortation  of  a  quarter 


A    TRAVELLING    MINISTER.  347 

of  an  hour's  length,  in  which  the  danger  of  his  state  and 
practices,  and  the  call  to  repentance  towards  God,  and  faith  in 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  were  fully  proposed  to  him. 


A  TRAVELLING  MINISTER. 


A  MINISTER  who  was  urged  by  his  people  to  go  out  on  a 
begging  excursion,  to  solicit  money  to  liquidate  a  debt  on  their 
meeting-house,  put  up  on  Saturday  night  with  the  deacon  of  a 
church  to  which  he  was  to  present  the  subject  on  the  ensuing 
tSabbath.  He  seemed  to  be  quite  wealthy ;  and,  as  he  treated 
his  guest  with  great  cordiality  and  kindness,  the  preacher 
cherished  glowing  expectations  of  a  very  generous  contribu- 
tion from  his  purse.  On  the  Sabbath,  after  setting  forth  the 
claims  of  his  object  in  as  forcible  and  eloquent  a  manner  as 
possible,  the  plates  were  passed  around  for  money.  As  the 
deacon  sat  near  the  pulpit,  the  preacher  could  not  resist  the 
temptation  of  rising  up  a  little  and  peeping  over  the  pulpit,  to 
witness  the  expression  of  the  good  man's  liberality.  As  the 
plate  approached  the  deacon,  he  leisurely  put  his  hand  into  his 
pocket.  The  preacher's  heart  palpitated  with  anxiety.  But, 
alas !  the  deacon  just  dropped  from  his  thumb  and  fingers  two 
red  cents  upon  the  plate,  and  allowed  it  to  pass  !  The  preacher 
suddenly  sank  back  into  his  seat,  and  hope  and  faith  died 
within  him.  The  collection  was  small,  and  the  preacher,  mor- 
tified and  indignant,  went  straight  back  to  his  people,  told  them 
the  story  of  the  two  cents,  and  assured  them  they  must  raise 
the  funds  needed  themselves,  or  send  some  one  else  forth  to 
beg,  rather  .than  him.  The  people  caught  his  spirit — they  de- 
termined to  solicit  no  further — increased  their  subscriptions, 
and  paid  their  debts  themselves. 


348  THE    AMEEICAN    CLERGY. 


REV.  MR.  GRAFTON 


Father  Grafton,  as  he  was  called,  was  for  nearly  half  a 
century  a  Baptist  pastor  at  Newton,  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston. 
,He  was  highly  esteemed,  and  often  invited  to  the  corporate  and 
other  public  dinners  of  that  city.  On  one  of  these  occasions, 
he  was  greatly  annoyed  by  the  profane  swearing  of  a  young 
man  who  sat  opposite  to  him ;  whom  he  sometimes  reproved, 
but  without  effect.  At  length,  the  old  gentleman  determined 
to  settle  the  affair,  and  rising,  with  a  sharp  voice,  he  called 
out,  "  Mr.  President !"  That  gentleman  immedi&tely  com- 
manded silence,  and  called  on  the  company  to  hear  "  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Grafton."  "  Mr.  President,"  said  he,  "  I  beg  leave  to 
move  that  there  be  no  swearing  done  here" — looking  at  the 
young  man,  and  attracting  the  general  attention  towards  him — 
"  except  by  my  friend,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Homer,"  a  well-known, 
estimable  clergyman  then  present.  The  resolution  was  carried 
by  acclamation,  and  the  good  old  minister  enjoyed  himself  for 
the  remaining  part  of  the  afternoon. 


REV.  CALVIN  COLTON. 


When  this  gentleman  was  in  England,  a  few  years  ago,  he 
published  an  interesting  little  book,  under  the  title  of  "  The 
American  Cottager."  In  it  he  gave  an  account  of  a  female 
cottager  on  a  missionary  station,  in  one  of  the  Western  States, 
who  had  recently  been  received  as  a  member  of  a  Christian 
church,  but  who  had  not  yet  had  the  privilege  of  obeying  the 
Saviour's  command  :  "  This  do  in  remembrance  of  me."  She 
was  suddenly  laid  on  a  sick-bed,  which  indeed  proved  the  bod 


REV.    CALVIN    COLTON.  849 

of  death.  She  sent  for  Mr.  C,  and  expressed  a  most  ardent 
desire  that  he  should  administer  to  her  the  holy  ordinance  of 
the  Supper.  Her  ardor  on  the  subject  was  so  great,  that  he 
began  to  fear  she  was  attaching  to  it  too  much  importance,  and 
was  regarding  obedience  to  it  as  a  passport  to  heaven,  and  de- 
licately expressed  his  fear  on  the  subject.  Her  reply,  however, 
was  more  than  satisfactory.  "  No,  sir,  I  do  not  think  that  the 
reception  of  the  Lord's  Supper  is  essential  to  the  salvation  of 
my  soul ;  but  I  do  feel  that  if  I  die  without  it,  I  can  never  be 
happy,  because  I  shall  never  forget  that  there  was  a  command 
of  mj'-  Saviour,  who  loved  me,  that  I  never  obeyed."         , 


On  the  voyage  of  Mr.  Colton  to  England,  a  few  years  since, 
he  had,  one  Sabbath,  complied  with  the  request  of  the  captain 
and  passengers  in  preaching  to  them ;  and,  towards  evening, 
was  hanging  over  the  stern  of  the  ship,  engaged  in  meditation, 
when  the  current  of  his  thoughts  was  interrupted  by  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  young  man,  one  of  the  cabin  passengers,  before 
him.  He  begged  pardon  for  the  intrusion,  and  observed  that 
he  owed  an  apology,  on  his  own  behalf,  for  he  was  unjustly 
suffering  in  the  estimation  of  the  preacher. 

"  Pray,  sir,"  said  the  preacher,  "  explain  yourself."  He 
went  on,  regardless  of  this  request ;  adding,  much  to  the  sur- 
prise of  the  minister,  "  I  bought  those  books  at  an  auction- 
room  ;  they  were  struck  off  to  me  in  one  parcel,  the  night 
before  I  left  New  York.     I  was  ignorant  of  what  they  were. 

"  What  books  ?"  interrupted  the  minister. 

"  I  intend  to  destroy  them,"  continued  the  young  man  ;  "  and 
I  should  suffer  injustice  if  I  allowed  you  to  suppose  that  I  had 
not  been  better  educated,  or  that  I  can  relish  such  vile  trash." 

It  turned  out,  afler  the  parties  in  this  colloquy  had  come  to 
a  better  understanding,  that  the  said  books  were  of  an  infidel 

30 


350  THE    AMERICAN    CLEEGY. 

and  otherwise  vile  character.  Soon  after  the  commencement 
of  the  voyage,  the  young  man  had  politely  offered  the  minister 
the  use  of  any  of  his  books  that  might  interest  him.  Of  this 
privilege  he  had  availed  himself,  but  had  not  happened  to  have 
seen  any  of  the  bad  ones.  It  had  also  happened  that,  in  his 
sermon  of  that  day,  the  preacher  had  taken  occasion  to  make 
some  remarks  on  the  absurdity  of  infidelity,  and  the  vicious 
state  of  the  moral  affections  that  could  relish  it.  The  young 
man  felt  mortified  and  ashamed,  supposing  himself  to  be 
directly  aimed  at  in  the  preacher's  remarks,  and  took  this 
opportunity  to  vindicate  himself.  The  interview  proved  that 
"  conscience  needs  no  accuser." 


REV.  DR.  BEECHER. 

When  the  venerable  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher  was  a  young  man, 
he  was  once  returning  to  his  native  town  in  Connecticut,  and 
fell  into  conversation  by  the  roadside  with  an  old  neighbour, 
an  Episcopalian,  who  had  been  mowing.  "  Mr.  Beecher,"  said 
the  farmer,  "  I  should  like  to  ask  you  a  question.  Our  clergy 
say  that  you  are  not  ordained,  and  have  no  right  to  preach.  I 
should  be  glad  to  know  what  you  think  about  it."  "  Sup- 
pose," replied  Dr.  Beecher,  "  you  had  in  the  neighbourhood  a 
blacksmith,  who  said  he  could  prove  that  he  belonged  to  a  re- 
gular line  of  blacksmiths  which  had  come  down  all  the  way 
from  St.  Peter,  but  he  made  scythes  that  would  not  cut ;  and 
you  had  another  blacksmith,  who  said  he  could  not  see  what 
descent  from  Peter  had  to  do  with  making  scythes  that  would 
cut.  Where  would  you  go  to  get  your  scythes  ?"  •'  Why,  to 
the  man  who  made  scythes  to  cut,  certainly,"  replied  the  far- 
mer. "Well,"  said  Dr.  Beecher,  '-'-that  minister  which  cuts, 
is  the  minister  which  Christ  has  authorized  to  preach.^''    In  a 


REV.    DR.    C.  351 

more  recent  conversation  on  the  same  subject,  Dr.  Beecher 
gave  his  opinion  by  relating  this  story. 


In  my  early  ministry,  says  Dr.  Beecher,  I  was  called  to 
attend  a  neighbour  at  East  Hampton,  Long  Island.  He  was 
skeptical  and  intemperate.  "  Pray  for  me !"  he  exclaimed, 
"  pray  for  me  ! — pray  for  me  !"  "  You  must  pray  for  your- 
self," I  replied.  "  Pray — I  cannot  pray  !  I  am  going  straight 
to  perdition  !"  He  lived  three  days,  almost  without  food,  and 
then  died — so  far  as  we  know — ivithout  any  disease.  It  was 
the  power  of  conscience. 


RfiV.  DR.  C. 


A  YOUNG  gentleman  fresh  from  college,  who  had  more 
knowledge  of  books  than  of  men,  was  wending  his  way  to  the 
residence  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  C. — The  Doctor  was  extensively 
known  and  respected  for  his  energy  of  character,  his  learning, 
piety,  and  moral  worth.  But,  like  the  great  apostle,  he  did 
not  disdain  to  "  labour  with  his  own  hands." 

With  a  letter  of  introduction  to  the  aged  divine,  whom  he 
had  known  only  by  reputation,  our  genteel  young  friend  was 
seeking  the  privilege  of  an  acquaintance  with  him. 

"  Old  daddy,"  said  he  to  an  aged  labourer  in  the  field  by 
the  way-side,  whose  flapped  hat  and  coarse-looking  over-coat 
— it  was  a  lowering  day — and  dark  complexion  and  features, 
contrasted  strongly  with  his  own  broadcloth  and  kid  gloves  and 

fair  person  : — "  Old  daddy,  tell  me  where  the  Rev.  Dr.  C 

lives."     "  In  the  house  you  see  yonder  "  the  old  man  modestly 
replied. 


352  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

Without  condescending  to  thank  him  for  the  information,  the 
young  man  rode  on,  and  soon  found  himself  seated  in  the  par- 
lour of  Dr.  C.'s  hospitable  residence,  at  the  invitation  of  the 
lady  of  the  house,  awaiting  the  expected  arrival  of  the  Doctor. 

In  due  time  the  host  appeared,  having  returned  from  the 
field,  laid  aside  his  wet  garments,  and  adjusted  his, person. 
But,  to  the  surprise  and  confusion  of  the  young  guest,  whom 
should  he  meet  in  the  Reverend  Dr.,  but  the  same  old  daddy 
he  had  so  unceremoniously  accosted  on  his  way ! 

"  It  was  very  respectful  in  you,"  said  the  venerable  divine, 
with  an  arch  look,  and  in  a  pleasant  tone — for  the  aged  man 
was  not  wanting  in  wit  and  humor — "  it  was  very  respectful 
in  you  to  call  me  old  daddy  ;  I  always  love  to  see  young  men 
show  respect  to  old  age." 

The  confusion  and  mortification  of  the  young  man  were  in- 
describable. He  could  have  sunk  through  the  floor,  and  buried 
himself  in  the  darkness  of  the  cellar  beneath  him.  With  a 
countenance  crimsoned  with  blushes,  he  began  to  stammer  out 
an  apology  for  his  incivility. 

"  No  apology,"  said  the  doctor,  very  pleasantly,  "  no  apo- 
logy,— I  always  love  to  see  respect  shown  to  old  age."  But 
the  kindness  and  assiduity  of  the  family  could  not  relieve  the 
unpleasantness  of  his  situation ;  a  sense  of  the  mortifying 
blunder  which  he  had  committed,  marred  all  his  anticipated 
pleasure  from  the  interview,  and  he  was  glad  to  take  his  leave 
as  soon  as  he  could  do  it  with  decency. 


REV.  MR.  COLEY 


Several  years  ago,  a  man,  decently  clothed,  of  good  ap- 
pearance and  address,  with  some  degree  of  intelligence,  called 


REV.    3IR.    COLEY.  353 

on  the  Rev.  Mr.  Coley,  of  Albany,  whose  benevolent  feehngs 
readily  sympathized  with  the  distressed,  exhibiting  testimonials 
of  being  a  good  Christian,  and  professing,  in  rather  an  Irish 
accent,  to  be  a  Scotch  Baptist,  but  possessing  no  formal  letter 
from  a  Baptist  church.  Mr.  C.  told  him  that  to  receive  him 
as  a  good  Baptist  brother,  a  letter  was  indispensable.  Still,  he 
protested  solemnly,  loudly,  and  with  tears,  that  he  was  a 
Baptist. 

In  about  two  months  afterwards,  he  returned,  with  a  letter, 
but  an  exceedingly  doubtful  one,  and  professing  that  all  he 
wanted  was,  to  raise  money  enough  to  get  back  to  Halifax. 
Mr.  C.  having  been  often  imposed  upon,  and  suspicions  run- 
ning high  on  this  occasion,  invited  him  to  dinner,  determining 
to  try,  by  a  very  proper  test,  whether  he  was  really  a  Baptist 
or  not.  Sitting  around  the  dinner-table,  he  asked  him  to  pray 
for  God's  blessing  upon  the  food  of  which  they  were  about  to 
partake. 

"  O,  yes,  sir,  yes,  sir." — A  few  minutes'  silence. 

"  Pray  out  loud,  brother,"  said  Mr.  C. — A  mutter. — "  I  can 
have  no  such  sacrifice  as  that  at  my  table,"  said  Mr.  C. ; 
"  pray  out  loud,  brother." 

"  O,"  said  the  man,  "  I  can't  pray  before  a  minister." 

Mr.  C.  then  excused  him.  Dinner  being  over,  Mr.  Coley 
observed,  if  he  were  a  good  Baptist  brother,  he  loved  prayer ; 
as  for  himself,  like  Daniel,  he  had  prayers  three  times  a  day, 
and  now  he  wanted  the  privilege  of  hearing  him  pray.  The 
family  being  called  in,  they  knelt  down. — Silence. — "  I  want 
you  to  pray,  brother,"  said  Mr.  C. — A  mutter. — "  I  want  you 
to  pray  out  loud,  brother,"  said  Mr.  C.  "  O,"  said  the  man, 
who  by  this  time  was  wrought  up  to  a  dreadful  state  of  per- 
turbation, "  I  could  not  pray  before  a  minister."  "  If  you  are 
a  Baptist  brother,"  said  Mr.  C,  "  you  can  pray."  Upon  this, 
the  man  muttered  over  some  parts  of  the  Lord's  prayer. 
"  Now,"  said  the  minister,  "  I  have  all  the  evidence  I  need  that 

30* 


354  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

you  are  an  impostor.  You  are  not  a  Baptist,  sir."  "  I  have 
called  on  ministers  all  over  the  United  States,"  said  the  man, 
"  and  you  are  the  sharpest  man  I  ever  met  with." — With  this, 
he  made  towards  the  door,  which  Mr.  C.  locked,  and,  in  the 
tones  of  a  second  Stentor,  said,  '■'■You  shall  not  go,  sir.  James, 
fetch  a  police  officer."  By  this  time  the  man  trembled  like  an 
aspen  leaf,  and  cried,  "Don't  send  for  a  police  officer."  "Confess, 
then,  who  and  what  you  are,"  said  Mr.  C.  He  then  confessed 
that  he  was  not  a  Baptist,  and  lived  by  getting  money  in  such 
a  manner,  and  added  that  his  honour  was  the  sharpest  man  he 
ever  met  with.  After  some  conversation  and  much  entreaty, 
Mr.  Coley  allowed  him  to  go,  satisfied  that  he  had  found  out  a 
tolerably  sure  method  of  detecting  impostors. 

Were  every  minister  to  adopt  some  such  expedient,  such 
characters  would  become  exceedingly  scarce,  and  their  acts 
of  benevolence  centre  on  needy  and  deserving  objects.  When 
ministers  help- such  persons,  they  are  a  party  to  an  extensive 
robbery  among  the  most  benevolent  members  of  the  church, 
though  unconscious  of  it. 


A  CLERGYMAN  IN  NEW  YORK. 

A  CLERGYMAN  of  Ncw  York  related  from  the  pulpit  the 
following  facts ; — A  clergyman  in  a  neighbouring  town,  some 
time  since,  as  he  was  riding,  passed  some  young  females,  near 
a  school-house,  and  dropped  from  his  carriage  two  tracts, 
which  he  had  previously  marked.  Some  time  after,  he  was 
conversing  with  a  young  woman  with  reference  to  her  spirit- 
ual state,  and  found  her  rejoicing  in  the  hope  of  pardoned  sin. 
He  inquired  the  history  of  her  religious  feelings,  and  she  traced 
them  to  a  tract  dropped  by  a  traveller,  which  was  manifestly 


REV.    E.    BYNE.  355 

one  of  the  two  above  referred  to.  He  was  afterwards  called 
to  visit  another  young  woman  on  a  sick-bed,  whose  mind  was 
calm  and  composed  in  view  of  death,  which  the  event  proved 
was  near  at  hand.  She  traced  her  first  serious  impressions  to 
the  circumstance  of  two  tracts  being  dropped  by  a  traveller ; 
one  of  which,  she  said,  was  taken  up  by  her  cousin,  and  the 
other  by  herself;  "  and  now,"  said  she,  "  we  are  both  hoping 
in  Christ."  She  had  retained  the  tract  as  a  precious  treasure, 
and  putting  her  hand  under  her  pillow,  showed  it  to  the  cler- 
gyman, who  immediately  recognised  the  marks  he  had  written 
on  it. 


REV.  E.  BYNE. 


The  late  Rev.  Edmund  Byne,  though  somewhat  eccentric 
in  his  manners,  vv^as  an  eminently  faithful  and  fearless  servant 
of  the  Lord  Jesus.  When  a  young  man,  soon  after  he  had 
joined  the  church,  he  was  invited,  with  his  wife,  by  some  of 
his  old  companions  in  sin,  to  attend  a  dancing-party,  which  he 
agreed  to  do  on  the  express  condition  that  he  should  entirely 
direct  the  whole  proceedings  of  the  evening.  When  the  com- 
pany had  collected,  a  young  lady  stepped  forward  and  invited 
the  preacher  to  dance.  He  so  far  accepted  her  invitation  as  to 
walk  out  on  the  floor  with  her,  when  the  violin  struck  up  a 
lively  air.  Mr.  Byne  claimed  his  right  to  give  direction  to  the 
exercises  of  the  evening,  and  immediately  sang  a  hymn,  in 
which  he  was  joined  by  several  of  the  party,  and  then  knelt 
down  and  offered  up  a  fervent  prayer.  By  the  time  he  had 
completed  his  second  hymn  many  were  in  tears.  The  dance 
was  converted  into  a  prayer-meeting,  and  no  other  frolic  was 
ever  attempted  in  that  house. 


366  THE    AMERICAN    CLEKGY. 


REV.  MR.  BAKER. 


Rev.  Mr.  Baker,  a  Free-will  Baptist  evangelist,  was  visiting 
from  house  to  house,  in  a  certain  neighbourhood,  in  New  Eng- 
land ;  and  met  on  his  walk  three  young  men  with  axes  on  their 
shoulders.  He  stopped  and  conversed  with  them.  Two  ap- 
peared somewhat  serious :  the  third,  a  gay,  frank  young  man, 
replied,  "  You  see,  sir,  that  splendid  white  house  on  that  farm 
yonder?"  "  Yes."  "Well,  sir,  that  estate  has  been  willed  to 
me  by  my  uncle ;  and  we  are  now  going  to  do  chopping  in  the 
woodland  that  belongs  to  it.  There  are  some  incumbrances 
on  the  estate  which  I  must  settle,  before  the  farm  can  be  fully 
mine ;  and  as  soon  as  I  have  cleared  it  of  these  incumbrances, 
I  mean  to  become  a  Christian."  "  Ah  !  young  man,"  said  the 
minister,  "  beware ;  you  may  never  see  that  day ;  while  you 
are  gaining  the  world,  you  may  lose  your  soul."  "  I'll  run 
the  risk,"  said  he,  and  they  parted.  The  three  young  men 
went  into  the  woods ;  and  this  daring  procrastinator,  and  ano- 
ther, engaged  in  felling  a  tree.  A  dry,  heavy  limb,  hung 
loosely  in  the  top ;  and  as  the  tree  was  jarred  by  the  success- 
ive strokes  of  the  axe,  it  quitted  its  hold,  and  as  it  fell  crashing 
through  the  branches  to  the  earth,  it  struck  the  head  of  the 
young  heir,  in  its  way,  and  stretched  him  on  the  ground,  a 
lifeless  corpse.  Thus  were  his  hopes  cut  otT;  and,  hazarding 
the  delay  of  months,  he  lost  his  soul  in  an  hour.  His  fellow- 
labourer  was  converted  ;  for  conviction  struck  his  mind  when 
he  saw  the  young  heir  quivering  in  death  !  "  I  felt  then  such 
a  horror  at  the  danger  of  delaying  religion,  when  I  thought  of 
what  he  had  just  said,  and  saw  his  end,  that  I  determined  to 
neglect  my  soul  no  longer."  His  example  was  followed  by 
others ;  and  a  great  revival  ensued 


REV.    DR.    TODD.  357 


REV.  DR.  TODD. 

The  following  account  of  a  Sabbath  in  the  solitudes  was 
given  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Todd,  at  one  of  the  benevolent  cele- 
brations at  Boston  : — 

In  the  northern  part  of  the  state  of  New  York,  between  the 
St.  Lawrence  and  Lake  Champlain,  and  between  the  Mohawk 
and  the  Hudson,  there  is  a  wilderness  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  long  and  one  hundred  miles  wide.  I  had  no  conception 
that  there  was  such  a  wilderness  this  side  of  the  Mississippi. 
This  wilderness  is  filled  with  lofty  mountains,  little  inferior  to 
the  White  Mountains  of  New  Hampshire.  On  the  tops  of 
these  mountains,  clouds  gather  and  pour  down  their  rains  and 
scatter  their  snows,  so  that  large  reservoirs  are  needed  to  hold 
the  superabundant  waters.  The  hand  of  God  has  hollowed 
out  a  number  of  beautiful  lakes,  in  the  bosom  of  these  moun- 
tains, for  this  purpose — and  here  arise  the  rivers  which  flow 
in  various  directions  to  the  sea. 

In  the  course  of  the  last  summer,  in  company  with  a  learned 
friend,  I  entered  that  wilderness,  and  penetrated  to  the  centre, 
where  is  a  beautiful  lake  of  twenty  or  thirty  miles  in  length, 
and  several  miles  wide,  interspersed  with  little  islands.  Here 
we  found  seven  families  that  lived  alone.  They  had  a  little 
foot-path  through  the  wilderness,  so  that  when  they  wanted  to 
step  into  a  store  to  buy  any  necessaries,  they  could  do  so  by 
following  this  foot-path  only  forty-three  miles ;  or  if  a  man 
wanted  bread  for  his  family,  he  had  only  to  take  his  grain  on 
liis  back  and  go  the  same  distance  and  get  it  ground,  and  then 
bring  it  back  in  the  same  way.  These  people  were  keen  at 
hunting  and  fishing,  but  children  at  every  thiifg  else.  But 
death  had  entered  even  there,  and  taken  a  beautiful  girl  of 
seventeen,  who  had  just  died,  with  no  one  to  administer  the 


358  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

consolations  of  religion,  or  to  perform  religious  services  at  her 
funeral. 

It  was  Saturday  night.  The  sun  was  an  hour  high.  When 
it  was  known  that  we  were  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  two  young 
ladies  jumped  into  a  little  boat  and  rowed  four  or  five  miles, 
to  tell  the  neighbours.  The  next  morning  was  still.  There 
was  no  hunting  or  fishing.  The  'coons  screamed  unmolested 
after  their  prey.  It  was  the  first  Sabbath  that  was  ever  kept 
there,  and  I  was  to  preach.  We  met  in  a  little  hut  covered 
with  bark.  All  were  there.  We  could  not  sing,  for  no  one 
knew  how  to  raise  a  tune.  In  the  afternoon,  to  accommodate 
a  mother  that  had  a  young  child,  the  meeting  was  appointed 
seven  miles  up  the  lake.  We  found  them  all  there.  One  of 
our  boats  was  rowed  by  the  father,  and  the  other  by  the  two 
sisters.  One  old  hunter  came  down  from  forty  miles  farther 
up;  and  he  was  able  to  raise  a  tune — a  half-hunter's  and  half- 
psalm  tune. 

What  a  meeting  was  that !  There  were  only  thirty-three 
souls  ;  but  they  came  round  me,  and  said,  if  I  would  come  and 
live  among  them,  they  would  give  me  fish  enough  to  eat,  and 
stop  hunting  on  the  Sabbath.  When  we  separated,  as  we  got 
out  a  little  way  from  them,  there  was  a  pause — they  raised  the 
tune  and  began  to  sing  the  hymn, 

«  People  of  the  living  God,"  &c. 
Was  I  weak  because  I  wept  ?     These  are  the  sheep  which  have 
strayed  from  our  fold — the  poor  ones  of  the  family,  whom  we 
are  to  send  after 


A  CLERGYMAN  IN  TENNESSEE. 

A  CONVENTION  being  held  in  Tennessee,  a  clergyman,  with 
a  friend,  made  their  home  at  the  houfee  of  Dr.  D.,  an  eminent 


A    CLERGYMAN    IN    TENNESSEE.  359 

pnysician,  who,  it  was  said,  was  greatly  addicted  to  profanity 
ill  ordinary  conversation.  No  evidence  of  this  fact  presented 
itself  for  the  several  days  of  their  visit. 

At  length,  on  the  evening  before  their  departure,  the  clergy- 
nian  determined  to  draw  a  bow  at  a  venture,  and  contrived 
incidentally  to  refer  to  profane  swearing.  He  then  said, 
"  Doctor,  we  leave  you  to-morrow ;  and  be  assured  we  are 
very  grateful  to  Mrs.  D.  and  yourself;  but,  may  I  add,  my 
dear  sir,  that  we  have  been  disappointed  here  ?" 

"  Disappointed !" 

"  Yes,  sir,  but  most  agreeably." 

"In  what,  Mr.  C?" 

"  Will  you  pardon  me,  if  I  say  we  were  misinformed,  and 
may  I  name  it?" 

"  Certamly,  sir,  say  what  you  wish." 

"  Well,  my  dear  sir,  we  were  told  that  Dr.  D.  was  not 
guarded  in  his  language ;  but,  surely,  you  are  misrepre- 
sented." 

"  Sir,"  interrupted  he,  "  I  do  honour  you  for  candor ;  yet, 
sir,  I  regret  to  say,  you  have  not  been  misinformed.  I  do, 
and  perhaps  habitually,  use  profane  language ;  but,  sir,  can 
you  think  I  would  swear  before  religious  people,  and  one  of 
them  a  clergyman  ?" 

Tears  stood  in  the  eyes  of  the  clergyman  as  he  took  him  by 
the  hand,  and  said,  "  My  dear  sir,  you  amaze  me  !  Can  it  be 
that  Dr,  D.,  so  courteous  and  intelligent  a  man,  has  greater 
reverence  for  us  than  for  the  injinite  God  ?" 

"  Gentlemen,"  replied  the  doctor,  with  a  tremulous  voice,  "I 
never  did  before  see  the  utter  folly  of  profane  swearing.  I 
will  abandon  it  for  ever." 


360  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


REV.  W.  TENNENT. 


The  eminent  minister  of  this  name  was  settled  as  a  pastor, 
several  years  before  he  married.  Totally  ignorant  of  the  way 
in  which  he  ought  to  manage  his  temporal  concerns,  he  was 
frequently  embarrassed.  In  this  emergency,  a  friend  from 
New  York  told  him  the  only  remedy  against  the  recurrence 
of  the  evil,  was  to  get  a  wife.  "  I  do  not  know  how  to  go 
about  it,"  was  the  answer.  "  Then  I  will  undertake  the  busi- 
ness," said  his  friend ;  "  I  have  a  sister-in-law,  a  pious  and 
prudent  widow."  The  next  evening  found  Mr.  Tennent  in 
New  York,  and  the  following  day  he  was  introduced  to  Mrs. 

N .     Pleased  with  her  appearance,  he  abruptly  told  her 

that  he  supposed  she  knew  his  errand ;  that  neither  his  time 
nor  inclination  would  allow  him  to  use  much  ceremony  ;  and 
that,  if  she  pleased,  he  would  return  from  his  charge  on  the 
following  Monday,  and  be  married.  With  some  little  hesita- 
tion, the  lady  consented ;  and  she  proved  a  most  excellent  wife. 


Mr.  Tennent  and  the  Rev.  S.  Blair  were  sent,  by  the  synod 
to  which  they  belonged,  on  a  mission  to  Virginia.  They 
stopped,  one  evening,  at  a  tavern  for  the  night,  where  they 
found  a  number  of  persons,  with  whom  they  supped,  in  a 
common  room.  After  supper,  cards  were  introduced ;  when 
one  of  the  gentlemen  politely  asked  them  if  they  would  not 
take  a  cut  with  them  ;  not  knowing  that  they  were  clergymen. 
Mr.  Tennent  pleasantly  answered,  "With  all  my  heart,  gen- 
tlemen,  if  you  can  convince  us  that  we  can  serve  our  Master's 
cause,  or  contribute  any  thing  towards  the  success  of  our  mis- 
sion."  This  drew  some  smart  reply  from  the  gentleman  ;  when 
Mr.  T.,  with  solemnity,  added,  "  We  are  ministers  of  the  Lord 


REV,    W.    TENXE.NT,  '^6i 

Jesus  Christ;  we  profess  ourselves  his  servants;  we  are  sent 
on  his  business,  which  is  to  persuade  mankind  to  repent  of 
I  heir  sins,  to  turn  from  them,  and  to  accept  of  that  happiness 
and  salvation  which  are  offered  in  the  gospel."  This  very 
unexpected  reply,  delivered  in  a  tender,  though  solemn  man- 
ner, and  with  great  apparent  sincerity,  so  engaged  the  atten- 
tion of  the  gentlemen,  that  the  cards  were  laid  aside,  and  an 
opportunity  was  offered  for  explaining,  in  a  social  conversation 
during  the  rest  of  the  evening,  some  of  the  leading  doctrines 
of  the  gospel,  to  the  entire  satisfaction  and  apparent  edification 
of  the  hearers. 


When  Mr.  Tennent  was  once  travelling  in  Virginia,  he 
lodged  one  night  at  the  house  of  a  planter,  who  informed  him 
that  one  of  his  slaves,  a  man  of  more  than  seventy  years  of 
age,  and  who  could  neither  read  nor  write,  was  eminent  for  his 
piety  and  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures.  Having  some  curiosity 
to  learn  what  evidence  such  a  man  could  have  of  their  divine 
origin,  he  went  out  in  the  morning,  alone,  and  without  making 
liimself  known  as  a  clergyman,  entered  into  conversation  with 
him  on  the  subject.  After  starting  some  of  the  common 
objections  of  infidels  against  the  authenticity  of  the  Scriptures, 
in  a  way  adapted  to  confound  an  ignorant  man,  he  said  to  him, 
"  When  you  cannot  even  read  the  Bible,  nor  examine  the  evi- 
dence for  or  against  its  truth,  how  can  you  know  that  it  is  the 
word  of  God?"  After  reflecting  a  moment,  the  African  re- 
plied, "  You  ask  me,  sir,  how  I  know  that  the  Bible  is  the 
word  of  God  ?     /  know  it  hy  its  effect  upon  my  orwn  hearty 


31 


3^2  THE    AMERICAN    CLEKGV. 


AN  AGED  CLERGYMAN. 

The  following  fact  may  show  Christian  ministers  the  im- 
portance of  the  greatest  possible  simplicity  in  the  language 
they  use : — 

A  young  clergyman,  who  had  delivered  a  discourse  in  the 
place  of  an  aged  brother  minister,  requested  the  opinion  of  the 
latter  respecting  it. 

"  Oh,"  said  he,  plainly,  "  many  of  the  words  you  used  were 
beyond  the  comprehension  of  your  hearers.  Thus,  for  in- 
stance, the  word  '  inference,'  perhaps  not  half  of  my  parish- 
ioners understand  its  meaning."  "  Inference,  inference  !"  ex- 
claimed the  other,  "why,  every  one  must  understand  that."  "  I 
think  you  will  find  it  not  so.  There's  my  clqrk,  now ;  he 
prides  himself  upon  his  learning,  and  in  truth  is  very  intelli- 
gent :  we  will  try  him.  Zechariah,  come  hither,  Zechariah  ; 
my  brother  here  wishes  you  to  draw  an  inference ;  can  you  do 
it?"  "Why,  I'm  pretty  strong,  but  Johanadab  the  coachman 
is  stronger  than  I ;  I'll  ask  him."  Zechariah  went  out^a  few 
moments,  to  look  after  the  coachman,  and  returned.  "  Joha- 
nadab says  he  has  never  tried  to  draw  an  inference,  sir;  but 
he  reckons  his  horses  can  draw  any  thing  that  the  traces  will 
hold !" 


REV.  DR.  HARRIS. 


The  late  Rev.  Dr.  Harris,  of  Dunbarton,  walking  out  one 
day,  in  one  of  the  large  villages  of  a  neighbouring  state,  met 

one  of  the  champions  of  Universalism.    It  was  General  P — , 

the  leader  and  main  supporter  of  the  large  Universalist  society 
which  had  for  many  years  existed  in  that  place.     He  was  a 


REV.    DR.    HARRIS.  363 

high-minded  man,  quite  wealthy,  and  very  influential ;  having 
a  good  deal  of  general  information,  and  considerable  skill  in 
argument,  which  last  he  did  not  hesitate  to  use  whenever 
opportunities  were  presented.  He  and  Dr.  H.  were  personally 
strangers ;  but,  knowing  something  of  each  other  by  reputa- 
tion, they  readily  introduced  themselves  to  each  other.  The 
general  very  soon  lifted  up  his  standard,  and  began  his  war  ot 
words ;  not  doubting  that,  though  he  might  fail  to  convince  his 
opponent,  he  should  at  least  show  him  that  he  was  no  ordinary 
combatant,  but  knew  well  on  what  ground  he  stood,  and  how 
to  wield  the  sword  of  sectarian  warfare  to  good  advantage. 
The  doctor  heard  him  through ;  then  calmly  turned  to  him 

and  said,  "  General  P ,  it  is  of  no  use  for  us  to  contend. 

We  shall  not  convince  each  other  by  arguments  ever  so  pro- 
tracted. But  there  is  one  thing,  in  relation  to  this  matter,  which 
deserves  consideration.  It  is  this :  I  can  treat  your  religion 
just  as  I  please ;  I  can  turn  from  it,  as  an  utter  abomination. 
I  can  despise  it ;  I  can  spit  on  it,  and  trample  it  under  my  feet ; 
and    yet,  after   all,   I  shall   be  saved  ;    shanH  7,    General 

P ?"     The  general,  of  course,  was  obliged  to  assent,  or 

give  up  the  doctrine.  There  was  no  room  for  evasion.  "  But," 
added  the  doctor,  while  the  general  was  writhing  at  the  con- 
tempt thus  thrown  upon  his  gods,  "  it  will  not  do  for  you  to 
treat  my  religion  so.  If  you  do,  you  are  a  lost  man  !"  This 
was  enough — nothing  more  was  said. 


Dr.  Harris  was  settled  in  Dunbarton,  in  August,  1789,  over 
a  church  gathered  one  month  previously,  consisting  of  twelve 
members,  all  males.  His  ministry  with  that  church  continued 
more  than  forty  years,  during  which  time  the  place  was  visited 
with  repeated  and  extensive  revivals,  by  which  the  church  was 
j;reatly  enlarged  and  strengthened. 


364  THE  AMERICAN  CLERGY. 

A  short  time  before  his  death  he  penned  the  following  retro- 
spect of  his  method  of  preaching,  and  of  his  feelings  in  view 
of  it.     We  copy  it  from  the  Congregational  Journal : 

"  In  my  late  sickness,  though  very  distressing  for  eight  or 
ten  weeks,  yet  I  had  no  choice  between  life  and  death  :  this  I 
chose  to  leave  with  God  to  decide  ;  and  I  could  rejoice  and  did 
rejoice,  that  infinite  wisdom  and  goodness  would  do  all  for  the 
best ;  and  my  greatest  desire  is,  that  I  may  spend  my  future 
remaining  days  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  in  doing  good  to  man. 

"And  now,  standing  on  the  borders  of  eternity,  I  find  that  I 
have  arrived  at  old  age,  and  gray  hairs,  and  many  infirmities, 
much  sooner  than  I  had  expected.  Truly,  few  and  evil  have 
the  days  of  my  life  been.  Though  I  am  sensible  that  God  has 
seen  much  heart-wickedness  and  coming  short  of  duty  in  me, 
yet  I  am  not  aware  that  since  I  professed  religion,  men  have 
accused  me  of  any  immoralities,  or  charged  me  with  delin- 
quencies in  ministerial  or  Christian  duties ;  yet  I  do  not  by 
any  means  extend  charity  so  far  towards  myself;  I  know  that 
I  have  a  great  account  to  settle  with  God,  which  nothing  can 
cancel  but  the  blood  of  Christ. 

*'  There  is  no  part  of  my  life  and  conduct  upon  which  I  can 
look  back  with  greater  approbation  and  peace  of  mind,  than 
my  manner  of  preaching  the  word,  and  the  pains  I  have  taken 
to  support  the  discipline  of  Christ's  church,  though  it  has  cost 
me  much  labour  and  toil,  and  I  have  passed  through  evil  re- 
port as  well  as  good  report  in  defending  the  truth.  For  a  long 
time  I  had  to  bear  the  reproach  of  bringing  in  new  and  strange 
doctrines ;  of  being  a  hard,  severe,  and  unfeeling  preacher, 
whose  doctrines  and  manner  of  preaching  were  calculated  to 
divide  the  people,  to  set  the  father  against  the  son  and  the  son 
against  the  father,  to  break  up  the  church  and  throw  society 
into  disorder.  And  why?  Because  I  preached  that  God  is 
unchangeably  the  same  for  ever ;  that  he  is  a  holy  sovereign, 
and  works  all  things  according  to  his  own  most  holy,  just,  and 


REV.    DR.    HARRIS.  365 

good  will,  and  that  it  is  man's  duty  to  submit  to  that  will  in 
all  things — instead  of  doing  which,  man  has  resisted  that  will, 
and  violated  God's  law,  and  thus  become  the  enemy  of  his 
Maker.  For  this  God  pronounced  his  curse  upon  him,  binding 
him  over  to  everlasting  punishment ;  under  this  curse,  all  the 
human  race  must  have  suffered  the  vengeance  of  eternal  fire, 
had  not  God  in  his  own  sovereign  grace  provided  a  way  of 
escape.  He  so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  own  Son  to  die 
that  sinners  might  live  ;  still,  none  can  be  saved,  but  those  who 
repent  and  forsake  their  sins ;  who  believe  in  Christ,  and  be- 
come holy.  Faith,  repentance,  a  new  heart  and  true  love,  are 
all  the  sovereign  gifts  of  God  ;  he  hath  mercy  on  whom  he  will 
have  mercy,  and  whom  he  will  he  hardeneth.  I  preached  all 
the  doctrines  of  strict  Calvinism ;  and  truly  this  was  new  doc- 
trine and  strange  preaching  in  these  parts  at  that  day ;  for 
when  I  began  to  preach  in  this  town,  the  whole  region  was 
given  over  to  Arminianism,  both  ministers  and  churches  em- 
bracing that  system,  with  but  kw  exceptions  ;  of  course,  in 
whatever  direction  I  went,  I  met  with  opposition.  The  new 
minister  brought  new  and  strange  things  to  their  ears,  which 
they  were  not  willing  to  endure.  But  I  found  it  necessary,  and 
believed  it  to  be  my  indispensable  duty,  to  dwell  much  on  the 
doctrines  of  grace,  wherever  I  went ;  and  it  was  often  thrown 
out  against  me,  that  I  always  preached  on  doctrines,  and  the 
hardest  doctrines  too ;  such  as  would  raise  the  opposition  of 
the  human  heart,  and  turn  the  feelings  of  unreconciled  men 
against  the  preacher.  I  very  well  knew  then,  as  ministers  do 
now,  that  I  was  not  taking  the  way  to  be  popular ;  but  I  believed 
it  to  be  the  right  way  to  do  good,  to  gain  the  approbation  of 
God  and  save  the  souls  of  men.  I  believed  it  the  only  way  to 
make  men  acquainted  with  the  true  character  of  God,  with  the 
nature  and  requirements  of  God's  holy  law,  the  condition  of 
man  before  and  after  the  fall,  and  the  way  in  which  sinners 
can  be  saved  through  the  atonement  of  Christ. 

31* 


366  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

"  I  am  now  entirely  satisfied  that  the  course  I  pursued  was 
correct ;  the  course  which  God  will  approve  ;  the  course  which 
promoted  sound  doctrine  in  this  and  neighbouring  churches, 
and  led  to  the  conversion  of  many  souls ;  finally,  it  has  fixed 
the  churches  in  this  region  firmly  on  the  doctrines  of  Christ 
and  his  apostles.  Instead  of  regretting  that  I  have  preached 
these  doctrines  so  much,  I  am  glad,  and  rejoice  with  exceeding 
joy.  There  is  no  part  of  my  life  in  respect  to  which  I  can 
look  forward  to  the  Judgment  with  greater  composure,  than 
that  which  was  spent  in  preaching  plainly  and  pungently,  to 
the  best  of  my  ability,  the  great  and  glorious  doctrines  of 
sovereign  grace,  as  understood  by  the  fathers  of  New  England. 
And  I  think  if  the  ministers  of  the  present  day  would  preach 
more  like  the  ministers  of  a  hundred  years  ago,  they  would  be 
much  more  likely  to  do  good,  and  save  the  souls  of  men.  The 
historical,  biographical,  geographical,  astronomical,  rhetorical, 
and  egotistical  preaching,  which  we  frequently  hear  in  these 
latter  days,  will  do  but  little  to  feed  the  hungry  souls  of  the 
saints,  and  much  less  to  convict  the  hard  hearts  of  poor,  dying 
sinners ;  and  therefore  I  leave  my  dying  testimony  against 
such  an  unprofitable  and  unscriptural  mode  of  preaching.^'' 


REV.  MR.  HYDE. 


The  memoir  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hyde,  of  Lee,  Mass.,  who 
died  in  December,  1833,  presents  him  in  a  very  lovely  view 
as  the  head  of  a  family.     One  of  his  sons  writes : — 

He  never  came  to  the  family  altar  as  if  to  perform  an  un- 
meaning and  irksome  ceremony ;  but  it  ever  seemed  to  him  a 
delightful  spot — a  spot  where  he  loved  to  linger.  And  1  be- 
lieve  we  were  all  happy  in  the  hour  of  family  dcvotloii.    They 


SEVERAL    CLERGYMEN.  367 

are  delightful  spots  in  the  retrospect;  and  nothing,  nothing 
makes  such  a  chasm  at  home ;  nothing  makes  the  paternal 
mansion  appear  so  gloomy,  as  not  to  hear  the  well-known 
accents  of  our  much-lamented  father  ascending  in  affectionate 
supplication  at  the  hours  of  morning  and  evening  devotion, 
and  invoking  a  blessing  upon  the  bounties  of  Providence  at  the 
social  repast.  And  he  was  not  content  with  supplicating  the 
best  of  Heaven's  blessings  upon  his  children  at  family  prayers 
only.  Often  has  he  taken  me  with  him  in  solitude,  particu- 
larly when  I  was  about  to  leave  home,  and  there,  upon  our 
bended  knees,  has  he  committed  me  to  the  special  care  and 
keeping  of  our  heavenly  Father.  What  he  has  done  for  me 
in  this  respect,  I  presume  he  has  done  for  the  others. 


SEVERAL  CLERGYMEN. 


An  old  Connecticut  pastor,  whose  peculiarities  of  preaching 
were  proverbial,  and  who  was  blest  with  a  temper  of  great 
value,  was  one  day  told  by  a  parishioner  that  he  did  not  like 
his  sermons.  "Well,"  said  the  old  man,  "I  don't  wonder  at 
it ;  I  don't  like  'em  myself." 


A  deacon  went  to  his  minister,  and  professing  to  speak  the 
sentiments  of  the  congregation,  began  to  complain  of  his  style 
of  preaching.  "  I  do  not  say  these  things  for  myself,"  said 
the  deacon  ;  "  I  am  not  at  all  dissatisfied  ;  but  the  people  are 
very  uneasy,  and  I  am  afraid  we  shall  have  trouble."  "  How 
is  it,"  inquired  the  pastor,  "  that  you  hear  all  these  complaints? 
No  other  member  of  the  church  seems  to  be  so  familiar  with 
them  as  you  are?"     "Oh,"  said  the  deacon,  "they  all  know 


3G8  THE    A^rERICAK    CLERGY. 

that  I  am  on  terms  of  intimacy  with  you,  and  they  make  me 
the  tunnel  into  which  they  pour  every  thing  which  they  wish 
you  to  hear."  "  Yes,"  replied  the  pastor,  "  and  it  is  byecause 
vou  are  a  tunnel  that  they  use  you  as  such." 


A  lady  of  suspected  chastity,  and  who  was  tinctured  with 
infidel  principles,  conversing  with  a  minister  of  the  Gospel, 
objected  to  the  Scriptures  on  account  of  their  obscurity  and 
the  great  difficulty  of  understanding  them.  The  minister  wisely 
and  smartly  replied,  ^^Why,  madam,  ichat  can  be  easier  to 
understand  than  the  seventh  commandment,  *  Thou  shalt  not 
commit  adultery  V  " 


An  elder  of  a  church  in  the  state  of  New  York,  a  few  years 
ago,  owned  a  distillery,  and  manufactured  ardent  spirits.  The 
elder  was  an  active  Christian,  and  seemed  quite  awake  to  the 
benevolent  efforts  of  the  day.  His  pastor  was  grieved  that  so 
worthy  a  man  should  be  engaged  in  a  business  which  brought 
temporal  and  eternal  ruin  upon  his  fellow-men,  and  resolved  to 
give  him  faithful  warning.  While  visiting  the  elder,  at  his 
house,  the  elder  looked  toward  the  grave-yard,  and  said,  "  I 
love  to  look  there ;  it  seems  to  be  the  way  to  heaven."  "  Yes," 
said  the  pastor,  "  and  that,"  pointing  to  the  distillery,  "  is  the 
way  to  hell."  It  was  a  word  in  season  ;  and,  in  a  few  weeks, 
the  distillery  was  levelled  to  the  ground. 


The  North  American  Review  gives  us  the  followmg  dialogue 
between  a  clergyman  and  a  female  parishioner :— 


SEVERAL    CLERGY31EN.  369 

Farishio7ter. — It  amazes  me  that  ministers  don't  write  better 
sermons.     I'm  sick  of  their  dull,  prosy  affairs. 

Minister. — But  it  is  no  easy  matter,  my  good  woman,  to 
write  good  sermons. 

Parishioner. — Yes,  but  then  you  are  so  long  about  it.  I 
could  write  one  myself,  in  half  the  time,  if  I  only  had  the  text. 

Minister. — Oh,  if  a  text  is  what  you  want,  I  will  furnish 
that.  Take  this  one,  from  Solomon :  "  It  is  better  to  dwell 
in  a  corner  of  the  house-top,  than  in  a  wide  house  with  a 
brawling  woman." 

Parishioner. — Do  you  mean  me,  sir? 

Minister. — Oh,  my  good  woman,  you  will  never  make  a 
good  sermonizer  ;  you  are  too  soon  in  your  application. 


"It  is -true  I  have  but  little  to  give,"  said  Dr.  Finley  to  an 
agent ;  "  but  I  consider  it  a  privilege  and  an  honour,  so  far  as 
the  Lord  allows,  to  have  something,  if  it  be  but  a  single  nail, 
in  every  edifice  that  is  going  up  for  Christ." 


A  lady,  in  genteel  but  very  moderate  circumstances,  when 

presenting  the  clergyman  of with  a  small  sum  for  a 

charitable  object,  said,  "  You  may  put  it  down  as  the  Widoiv''s 
Mite,  sir.^^  "  Not  so,  my  friend,"  replied  the  worthy  pastor. 
"  I  beg  you  may,"  the  lady  earnestly  added ;  "  it  is  but  a 
trifle."  "  I  am  aware  of  that,  madam,  but  it  is  not  all  your 
living,^''  How  very  few  have  in  truth  presented  the  "  widow's 
mite,"  although  many  apply  the  passage  to  themselves. 


370  '  THE    AMERICAN    CLEEGY. 

A  minister,  not  favourable  to  the  doctrine  of  the  eternal 
election  of  the  people  of  Christ,  intending  once  to  puzzle  an 
aged  woman,  who  was  regarded  as  "a  mother  in  Israel," 
said  to  her,  "  Do  you  really  believe  that  God  chose  you  to 
salvation  before  you  were  born  ?"  Her  answer  was  remarka- 
ble  for  its  promptness.  "  Oh,  most  certainly ;  for  I  know 
He  never  could  have  seen  any  thing  in  me  for  which  to  choose 
me  since  I  was  born." 


A  skeptic,  meeting  a  clergyman  of  one  of  our  large  cities, 
with  a  view,  probably,  of  showing  his  wit,  asked,  "  If  we  are 
to  live  after  death,  why  have  we  not  some  certain  knowledge 
of  it  ?"  The  clergyman,  feeling  it  important  sometimes  to 
answer  a  fool  according  to  his  folly,  asked  in  return,  "Why 
didn't  you  get  some  knowledge  of  this  world  before  you  came 
into  it?" 


"  If  we  go  to  war,  father,"  said  a  bright-eyed  boy  to  his 
clerical  parent,  "  from  what  part  of  the  Bible  shall  you  get  a 
text  for  a  new  sermon?"  The  good  minister,  being  taken  by 
surprise  at  the  question,  thought  a  moment,  and  then,  smooth- 
ing the  locks  of  the  child  with  a  sort  of  paternal  pride,  an- 
swered that  he  believed  it  would  be  from  Lamentations. 


Some  years  since,  as  the  venerable  Father  Patterson  of  Phi- 
ladelphia, of  excellent  memory,  was  riding  in  a  public  convey- 
ance, through  one  of  the  most  fertile  counties  of  Pennsylvcinia- 
his  attention  was  attracted  by  the  many  large  farms  in  that 
part  of  the  country.     He  admired  the  beauty  of  the  landscnp's 


SEVERAL    CLERGYMEN.  371 

the  richness  of  the  soil,  the  luxuriance  of  vegetation,  the  ex- 
tensive meadows  and  ample  fields  waving  with  the  yellow  har- 
vest, and  ripening  for  the  sickle.  As  he  looked  abroad,  over 
the  highly  cultivated  fields,  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left, 
he  said  to  a  friend,  "  Indeed,  indeed,  the  Lord  has  many  fine 
farms  in  this  region ;  but  I  fear  He  receives  very  little  rent 
from  them  all."  We  fear  this  passing  remark  is  applicable  to 
farms  in  many  other  parts  of  this  as  well  as  other  countries. 


That  was  a  noble  answer  which  was  given  by  a  clergyman 
to  one  of  his  acquaintances,  when  urged  to  drink  wine  at  a 
wedding. 

"  What !  Mr.  M.,"  said  one  of  the  guests,  «  don't  you  drink 
wine  at  a  wedding  ?' 

"  No,  sir,"  was  the  reply ;  "  I  will  take  a  glass  ot  water." 

"  But,  sir,"  said  the  officious  guest,  "  you  recollect  the  ad- 
vice  of  Paul  to  Timothy,  to  take  a  little  wine  for  his  infirmity." 

"  I  have  no  infirmity,"  was  the  reverend  gentleman's  reply. 


As  the  Rev.  Mr.  Field,  formerly  .qf  Westminster,  Vermont, 
went  to  give  his  vote  at  an  election,  a' man  of  opposite  politics 
expressed  his  surprise  at  seeing  him  there;  and,  to  confirm  his 
objection,  quoted  the  remark  of  the  Saviour,  that  his  "  kincr- 
dom  was  not  of  this  world."  "  Has  no  man  a  right  to  vote," 
rejoined  the  witty  clergyman,  "  unless  he  belongs  to  the  king, 
dom  of  Satan  ?" 


A  minister  writes : — In  obtaining  subscriptions  for  a  bene- 
volent purpose,  I  called  upon  a  gentleman,  in  one  of  our  largest 


Ot'^  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY, 

citier5,  who  generously  contributed  to  the  object.  Before  leav 
ing,  I  said  to  him,  "  How  much,  think  you,  will  such  an  in- 
dividual subscribe?"  "I  don't  know,"  said  he,  "but  could 
you  hear  that  man  pray,  you  would  think  that  he  would  give 
you  all  he  is  worth."  So  I  called  upon  him ;  but,  to  my  sur- 
prise, he  would  not  contribute.  As  I  was  about  to  take  my  leave, 
I  said  to  him,  "  As  I  came  to  your  house,  I  asked  an  individual 
what  you  would  probably  give  ?  '  I  don't  know,'  said  he,  '  but 
could  you  hear  that  man  pray,  you  would  think  he  would  give 
you  all  he  is  worth.' "  The  man's  head  dropped,  tears  gushed 
from  his  eyes,  he  took  out  his  pocket-book,  and  gave  mo 
seventy-five  dollars. 


Bishop  Elliot,  of  Georgia,  has  published  a  sermon,  in  which 
he  says : — 

It  will  be  a  happy  day  for  the  church  when  her  clergy  and 
laity  shall  plant  themselves  firmly  upon  the  four  principles  of 
this  sermon :  That  wealth  can  be  lawfully  and  innocently  got- 
ten only  by  labour.  That,  in  the  choice  of  rulers,  virtue  and 
wisdom  are  to  be  preferred  to  party.  That  education  is  not 
the  mere  acquisition  of  knowledge,  but  includes  moral  and  re- 
ligious training.  That  the  religion  of  Christ  is  not  the  fruit 
of  excitement,  but  of  scriptural  instruction,  united  with  prayer 
and  watchfulness.  Such  principles  would,  in  these  days,  make 
her  members  what  Scripture  says  all  Christians  ought  to  be,  a 
"  peculiar  people !" 


The  Rev.  John  Elliot  was  once  asked  by  a  pious  woman, 
who  was  vexed  with  a  wicked  husband,  and  bad  company  fre- 
Cjuently  infesting  her  house  on  his  account,  what  she  should 
do?     "  Take,"  said  he,  "the  Holy  Bible  into  your  hand,  when 


SEVERAL    CLERGYMEN.  STli 

bad  company  comes  in,  and  that  will  soon  drive  them  out  of 

the  house." 


A  clergyman,  in  New  York,  not  long  since,  remarked  from 
the  pulpit,  while  preaching  on  faith,  that  Faith  was  "  God's 
Magnetic  Telegraph."  One  of  his  hearers,  who  was  perhaps 
more  inquisitive  than  thoughtful^  was  desirous  of  knowing 
"  where  the  office  is?"  To  which  the  admirable  answer  was 
given,  "  J?^  every  lowly  heart  of  prayer.'''' 


An  aged  clergyman,  in  Baltimore,  states,  "  that  during  the 
time  he  was  chaplain  to  the  Maryland  Penitentiary,  he  took 
great  pains  to  ascertain  from  the  convicts,  what  was  the  com- 
mencement of  their  downward  career ;  and  that  the  testimony 
of  about  ninety-nine  out  of  a  hundred  was,  that  their  career  of 
wickedness  commenced  with  Sabbath-hreaking,^'' 


A  clergyman  in  New  England,  eminent  for  talents,  was  one 
day  accosted  by  a  parishioner,  who  highly  commended  some 
of  his  performances,  of  which  he  himself  had  a  very  low 
opinion.  After  patiently  hearing  him  a  few  minutes,  the  cler- 
gyman replied,  "  My  friend,  all  that  you  say  gives  me  no  better 
opinion  of  myself  than  I  had  before,  but  it  gives  me  a  much 
worse  opinion  of  you." 


A  venerable  mmister,  who  has  preached  some  sixty-five 
years  in  the  same  place,  being  asked  what  was  the  secret  of 
long  life,  replied,  "  Rise  early,  live  temperately,  work  hard, 
and  keep  cheerful !" 

32 


374  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

An  English  publication  gives  an  anecdote  of  a  clergyman 
of  this  country  worth  transcribing.  He  was  desirous  of  com- 
municating  the  idea  of  faith  to  a  little  boy,  and  taking  a  chair, 
he  placed  it  at  a  distance  from  him,  and  setting  the  boy  upon 
it,  told  him  to  fall  forward,  and  he  would  catch  him.  The  boy 
had  readily  mounted  the  chair,  but  declined  to  fall  forward  as 
requested.  He  wished  to  obey,  but  was  afraid  the  clergyman 
would  fail  to  catch  him.  He,  however,  put  one  hand  on  the 
mantelpiece,  thinking  to  save  himself  if  not  caught ;  but  the 
minister  told  him  that  would  not  do — he  must  trust  to  him 
alone ;  adding  that  he  would  surely  catch  him,  provided  he 
would  fall  forward.  The  boy  summoned  all  his  courage,  placed 
confidence  in  what  had  been  said  to  him,  he  fell,  and  was  im- 
mediately caught.  The  clergyman  then  told  him  that  was 
faith,  and  that  he  wished  him  to  go  with  the  same  confidence 
to  Jesus  Christ.  Any  child  may  comprehend  this  illustration ; 
but  alas,  the  disposition  is  too  often  manifested  to  lay  hold  of 
some  "  mantelpiece," — something  in  which  self  is  interested,  • 
rather  than  go  direct  to  the  arms  of  the  Saviour ! 


A  Christian  pastor,  in  America,  was  in  the  frequent  habit, 
during  the  tours  he  made  in  his  extensive  parish,  of  stopping 
for  a  night  at  a  village  inn,  and  of  continuing  his  journey  the 
next  day.  On  one  occasion  he  found  the  principal  apartment 
converted  into  a  ball-room.  The  host  apologized  for  his  not 
being  able  to  accommodate  him  as  comfortably  as  usual ;  but 
the  pastor,  without  being  disconcerted,  asked  to  have  his  sup- 
per served  to  him  in  a  corner  of  the  room.  When  it  was 
ready,  he  begged  the  assembly  to  grant  him  a  few  moments' 
silence,  that  he  might,  according  to  his  practice,  make  an  au- 
dible prayer  before  partaking  of  the  meal.  He  accordingly 
commenced  praying,  but  before  he  had  finished,  the  dancers 
had  disappeared. 


A   NEW    ENGLAND   MINISTER.  375 

A  Universalist  clergyman  was  once  robbed  on  the  road  by 
a  man  who  had  formerly  lived  with  him  as  a  servant.  After 
his  arrest,  the  preacher  asked  the  man  how  he  could  be  so  base 
as  to  rob  his  old  employer.  The  robber's  answer  speaks  vo- 
lumes against  the  soul-destroying  heresy: — "You  yourself 
lempted  me  to  commit  this  offence  against  the  law ;  for  I  have 
often  heard  you  say,  both  in  public  and  private,  that  all  men 
will  enjoy  everlasting  bliss  after  death,  and  that  there  is  7io  such 
tiling  as  eternal  pu7iishment  in  the  next  world.  You  thus 
removed  my  greatest  fear:   why  should  I  dread  the  less?" 


A  NEW  ENGLAND  MINISTER. 

A  WORTHY  minister  of  the  gospel,  in  one  of  the  New  Eng- 
land States,  was  in  the  habit  of  inviting  any  of  his  lay  bre- 
thren, who  might  feel  impelled  by  a  sense  of  solemn  duty,  to 
exhort,  or  pray,  or  to  perform  any  other  religious  acts  which 
might  to  them  seem  proper,  at  the  close  of  the  preaching.  It 
accordingly  became  a  common  practice,  for  some  one  or  other 
of  the  members  of  the  church  to  engage  in  exhortation  or 
prayer,  at  the  conclusion  of  the  service.  Among  those  who 
seemed  anxious  to  take  a  part  on  such  occasions,  was  a  rough, 
uncouth  sort  of  a  lad,  who  would  seldom  permit  an  opportu- 
nity to  pass,  without  ministering  some  word  of  admonition  to 
the  people.  At  ordinary  times  the  forwardness  of  the  lad 
produced  no  particular  inconvenience.  He  was,  therefore,  ge- 
nerally permitted  to  go  through  his  regular  harangues.  On  one 
occasion,  when  the  minister  rose  to  preach,  he  saw  in  the  meet- 
ing several  very  genteel-looking  strangers,  who  had  come  in  to 
hear  his  sermon,  and  appeared  to  be  prepared  to  give  very 
earnest  heed.     He  thought  at  the  moment  that  it  would  be  a 


oTtt  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

fine  opportunity  for  him  to  make  a  powerful  impression  upon 
the  hearts  of  these  strangers  ;  and  prepared  his  mind  for  one 
of  his  best  efforts.  Still  he  was  apprehensive  that  if  the  boy 
got  a  chance  to  exhort  at  the  end  of  the  service,  he  might 
frustrate  all  the  benefit  of  his  sermon ;  and  he  was  therefore 
exceedingly  anxious  to  close,  and  dismiss  before  the  young 
man  had  time  for  his  speech.  But  this  could  not  be  done;  for 
the  boy  was  watching  his  opportunity,  and  as  soon  as  the 
preacher  had  finished,  he  commenced,  and  continued  his  speech 
for  some  time,  to  the  no  small  mortification  of  the  minister. 
After  some  time,  this  same  preacher  was  travelling  at  a  dis* 
tance  from  home,  when  he  met  a  very  interesting  stranger, 
who  appeared  instantly  to  recognise  him,  and  approached  and 
cordially  saluted  him,  after  which  the  following  conversation 
took  place : 

Stranger. — Did  I  not   have   the   pleasure  of  hearing  you 

preach  at ,  on  a  certain  day,  when  there  were  several 

strangers  of  us  present? 

Minister. — I  was  preaching  there  at  that  time. 

Stranger. — I  shall  have  reason  to  remember  that  day,  not 
only  in  time,  but  in  eternity ;  for  it  pleased  the  Lord  there  to 
fasten  an  arrow  in  my  heart,  which  left  me  uneasy  ana 
wretched,  until  I  found  peace  in  Christ. 

Minister. — I  desire  to  be  very  thankful  to  God,  that  he 
was  pleased  to  make  my  public  ministry  on  that  occasion,  the 
means  of  doing  good  to  you,  and  I  shall  ever  desire  to  be  hum- 
ble before  him,  for  such  honour  put  upon  me. 

Stranger. — My  friend,  it  is  true  that  the  Lord  has  made  me, 
as  I  trust,  one  of  his  jewels  ;  but  I  shall  not  sparkle  in  your 
crown,  in  that  day,  but  in  the  crown  of  that  boy,  who  exhorted 
when  you  had  done.  The  Lord  made  use  of  that  boy  to  convert 
my  soul. 


A    TENITENT    MINISTER.  377 


REV.  DR.  GRIFFIN. 

Dr.  E.  D.  Griffin  was  often  extremely  felicitous  in  his  allu- 
sions to  Scripture,  especially  on  public  occasions.  In  his 
Memoir;  we  have  an  affecting  account  of  the  dangerous  illness 
of  his  eldest  danghter,  and  of  his  trials  connected  with  it. 
Some  years  afterwards,  when  by  marvellous  grace  that  daughter 
had  been  brought  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  and  had  become 
the  mother  of  children,  she  came  forward,  with  her  husband, 
according  to  the  practice  of  the  Christian  denomination  to  which 
they  belonged,  to  "offer  them  to  the  Lord;"  Dr.  G.  stood  for 
a  moment  before  he  uttered  a  word,  and  then,  with  deep  emo- 
tion, said,  in  a  way  that  affected  every  person  present  to  tears, 
"  I  had  not  thought  to  see  thy  face ;  and  lo,  God  hath  showed 
me  also  thy  seed!" 


A  PENITENT  MINISTER. 


A  Christian  minister,  writing  from  Boston  to  England  in 
1795,  remarks  that  the  religion  of  the  gospel  is  the  grand 
restorative  of  the  disturbed  soul.  In  illustration  of  the  remark, 
he  states  that  he  was  once  told  a  story  by  one  of  his  hearers  in 
reference  to  another,  which  he  improperly  believed,  and  made 
some  strong  remarks  on  the  conduct  of  the  offender.  These 
were  soon  carried  to  him,  losing  nothing  of  their  asperity  on 
the  road,  and  in  his  turn  the  offender  was  offended;  both  were 
very  angry,  the  one  stayed  from  church,  and  the  minister 
was  rather  pleased  than  otherwise  that  he  did  so. 

After  a  short  time  the  rupture  was  public,  and  each  had  a 
party  to  commend  and  another  to  censure  him.  The  con- 
science of  the  minister  convicted  him  of  wrong-doing,  but  it 

32* 


378  THK    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

was  very  long  before  he  could  persuade  himself  to  do  what 
was  right.  At  length  he  went  to  his  brother,  whom  he  found 
quite  indisposed  to  receive  him.  At  last  the  minister  said, 
"You  are  justified,  sir,  in  your  conduct  on  this  occasion;  I 
deserve  it  all,  yea,  and  more  than  this;  and  I  can  bear  all 
with  more  ease  than  I  can  the  reproaches  of  my  own  heart.  I 
am  come,  sir,  to  acknowledge  my  error;  I  have  done  wrong 
in  taking  up  a  report  of  you,  or  saying  any  thing  about  you 
but  to  yourself;  I  beseech  you  to  forgive  me."  He  was  going 
on — but  his  friend  rose,  his  face  being  suffused  with  tears,  and 
would  have  spoken,  but  could  not.  He  extended  his  hand,  and 
it  was  received  with  as  warm  a  heart  as  ever  beat  in  a  friend's 
bosom.  Their  hearts  never  cooled  towards  each  other,  till 
they  were  made  cold  by  death,  and  doubtless  their  friendship 
shall  extend  throughout  eternity. 


A  UNITARIAN  MINISTER. 


An  o\A  friend,  or  Quaker,  a  few  years  since,  happening  one. 
Lord's-day  morning  to  meet  a  Universalist  minister  in  front 
of  a  meeting-house  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  fell  into  conversation 
with  him  upon  his  favourite  doctrine  of  universal  salvation. 
The  minister  endeavoured  to  support  his  system  with  consider- 
able warmth  ;  but  the  Quaker  professed  to  doubt  its  correctness, 
which  served  to  increase  the  zeal  of  his  opponent.  At  length, 
finding  it  in  vain  to  reason,  he  remarked,  "Well,  friend,  I  think 
thee  must  be  very  happy  when  walking  round  the  market,  and 
seeing  men,  women,  and  children  of  every  description,  to  think 
that  they  are  all  safely  bound  to  heaven."  The  Universalist 
could  only  reply,  "  I  don't  know — I  think  we  shall  do  very 
well,  if  we  can  make  out  faith  enough  for  ourselves." 


A   METHODIST    CLERGYMAN.  379 


A  METHODIST  CLERGYMAN. 

Not  many  years  ago,  the  Rev.  Mr. ,  a  native  of  Balti- 
more, was  stationed  by  the  Conference  at  Augusta,  Georgia, 
where,  by  his  exalted  piety,  zealous  devotion  to  the  Christian 
cause,  and  uniform  cheerfulness  and  kindness  of  disposition," 
he  made  many  friends,  who  will  long  continue  to  remember 
him  with  sentiments  of  veneration  and  esteem.  His  eloquence, 
and  especially  his  logical  mode  of  reasoning,  never  failed  to 
interest  and  impress  the  minds  of  his  hearers ;  but  the  old 
gentleman  was  of  that  old-fashioned  school  of  preachers  who 
entertain  a  higher  reverence  for  the  sanctuary  in  which  they 
worship,  than  for  the  feelings  of  any  who  dared  to  profane  it 
by  indecorous  conduct,  and  quaint  and  harsh  as  it  seemed  to 
the  thoughtless  offenders,  he  permitted  none  to  interrupt  the 
services,  or  deport  themselves  unbecomingly  in  his  church, 
with  impunity. 

It  was  his  custom  from  time  to  time,  whenever  a  travelling 
preacher  chanced  to  be  present  to  fill  his  place,  to  extend  the 
sphere  of  his  usefulness,  by  preaching  in  the  neighbourhood 
wherever  he  could  obtain  a  congregation.  On  one  of  these 
occasions  he  had  gone  to  fulfil  an  afternoon  appointment  in 
Hamburg,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  from  Augusta,  where, 
at  that  time,  there  was  no  regular  preaching.  He  had  ascended 
the  pulpit,  and  was  earnestly  addressing  a  very  respectful  and 
attentive  audience,  when  a  man  entered  and  seated  himself  in 
a  conspicuous  part  of  the  room.  After  looking  listlessly  about 
him  for  a  few  minutes,  vainly  endeavouring  to  adjust  himself  in 
a  comfortable  position,  he  extended  his  person  at  full  length 
upon  the  bench.  The  preacher  paused  in  the  midst  of  his  dis- 
course, and  fixed  his  eyes  upon  the  reclining  auditor. 

"  My  friend,"  said  he,  in  the  blandest  tone,  "  get  up.  Sit  up 
in  your  seat  as  you  should.     You  would  not  deport  yourself 


380  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

thus  in  the  house  of  a  neighbor  for  whom  you  had  any 
respect." 

The  eyes  of  all  were  directed  upon  the  delinqnent,  who 
read,  in  every  countenance,  an  approval  of  the  minister's 
rebuke. 

He  rose  from  his  position — sat  erect  with  a  crimsoned  face 
for  a  few  minutes,  and  then  left  the  house. 

The  minister  went  on  with  his  discourse.  When  the  services 
were  over,  he  received  the  thanks  and  congratulations  of  his 
Christian  friends,  who  pressed  around  him  at  the  door,  and 
promising  to  meet  them  again  on  the  following  Sunday,  took 
his  leave.  He  had  not  proceeded  far  from  the  house  before  he 
was  overtaken  by  the  man  whom  he  had  rebuked  for  his  im- 
proper conduct. 

"  Stop,  Mr. ,"  said  he,  "  I  want  to  have  a  talk  with 

you." 

The  preacher  turned  smiling  to  hear  what  he  had  to  say. 

"  You  have  insulted  me,  sir,"  said  the  man,  with  extreme 
agitation ;  "  and  I  did  promise  to  whip  you  on  sight ;  but  as 
you  have  given  out  that  you  will  preach  here  next  Sunday,  and 
in  consideration  that  you  are  an  old  man,  I  have  concluded  to 
give  you  a  chance  to  apologize." 

"For  what?"  inquired  Mr. . 

"Why,  for  insulting  me  in  the  manner  you  did  before 
everybody." 

"  My  dear  sir,  I  can  do  no  such  thing.  I  cannot  apologize 
for  doing  what  I  conceived  my  duty." 

"  But  you  must,  sir;  and  I  now  give  you  notice,  that  if  you 
don't  apologize  for  insulting  me  to  the  congregation  next  Sun- 
day—  if  you  don't  make  the  apology  as  public  as  the  insult 
was — preacher  as  you  are,  I'll  give  you  a  thrashing." 

"  Tut,  tut, — you  would  not  do  any  thing  so  rash.    You " 

"  I  will! — so  help  me " 

"  Stop,   my   friend — make   no   rash    promises,"   said    the 


A    METUODIST    CLERGYMAN.  381 

preacher ;  "  I  did  not  desire  to  insult  you,  or  to  wound  your 
leelings  unnecessarily;  but  you  must  not  expect  me  to  apolo- 
gize for  doing  my  duty  as  a  faithful  steward  of  the  house 
of  God." 

"  Well,  you  come  here  next  Sunday  and  preach  without 
making  an  apology,  and  you  know  what  to  depend  upon," 
replied  the  man  as  he  turned  away. 

The  following  Sunday,  true  to  his  appointment,  the  preacher 
was  there.  The  insulted  auditor  was  there  also,  and  kept  his 
eyes  steadfastly  fixed  on  the  preacher  during  the  whole  of  his 
discourse.  But  not  the  slightest  allusion  was  made  to  the 
occurrence  of  the  previous  Sunday. 

After  the  cougregation  were  dismissed,  the  man  followed 
Mr.  ,  as  before. 

"  Well,  sir,"  said  he,  "  you  did  not  make  the  apology  which 
I  required  of  you?" 

"  No,  my  friend ;  I  told  you  that  I  could  not.  I  feel  that  I 
have  done  no  wrong.  If  I  were  to  make  a  public  apology  to 
appease  your  feelings,  I  would  acknowledge  that  I  had  done 
wrong,  which  would  be  falsifying  myself.  I  would  do  any 
proper  thing  to  serve  you,  but,  as  I  said  before,  I  can  make  no 
such  apology." 

"  Well,  sir,  you  need  not  think  to  put  me  ofF  in  this  way.  I 
will  permit  no  man  to  insult  me ;  and  I  now  tell  you,  once 
more,  that  if  you  don't  apologize  for  the  insult  to  me  last  Sun- 
day, the  next  time  you  preach  in  Hamburg,  I  will  whip  you, 
as  sure  as  I  live." 

"  I  hope  you  may  live  to  form  better  resolutions,  my  friend," 
said  the  smiling  clergyman ;  "  but  you  require  of  me  what  I 
cannot  do,  even  to  avoid  a  whipping." 

They  parted ;  Mr. with  a  polite  bow,  and  the  man 

with  fierce  threats  and  violent  gestures. 

On  the  following  Sunday,  the  preacher  was  punctual  to  his 
appointment.     As  on  the  former  occasion,  the  belligerent  indi- 


382  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

vidual  was  in  his  place,  an  attentive  listener  to  the  sermon. 
The  meeting  was  an  extremely  interesting  one,  and  did  not 
break  up  until  later  than  usual. 

This  time  the  man  did  not  accost  him,  nor  did  the  worthy 
clergyman  see  him  again  for  several  days.  But,  about  a  week 
after  the  last  meeting,  as  he  was  going  down  Broad  street,  he 
saw  the  man  who  had  so  solemnly  promised  him  a  whipping, 
approaching  him  on  the  same  side  of  the  street.  He  easily 
guessed  the  object  of  his  visit  to  Augusta,  and  determined  to 
meet  his  fate  as  gracefully  as  possible.  The  man  approached 
within  a  foot  or  two  of  the  minister,  and,  with  apparent  timidity, 
drew  a  letter  from  his  pocket,  placed  it  in  the  clergyman's 
hands,  and  passed  on,  without  uttering  a  single  word. 

The  first  thought  the  worthy  minister  had  was,  that  possibly 
the  unhappy  man  had  sent  him  a  challenge ;  but,  on  opening 
the  letter,  what  was  his  surprise  to  read, 

Hamburg,  S.  C,  April  10,  1833. 
"  Respected  Sir  : — Enclosed  you  will  find  fifty  dollars,  a  part 
of  which  I  have  collected  from  your  Hamburg  friends.  It  is 
tendered  to  you  in  acknowledgment  of  your  praiseworthy 
eflxjrts  in  the  cause  of  religion.  Hoping  that  you  will  continue 
to  visit  us,  whenever  your  pastoral  engagements  will  permit,  I 
remain,  Gratefully  yours. 


Such  was  the  happy  result  of  faithful  preaching.  The  good 
minister  pleasantly  remarked,  that  he  would  have  no  objection, 
every  now  and  then,  to  receive  such  a  flogging ;  and  continued 
to  visit  Hamburg  whenever  opportunities  presented. 


REV.    DR.    WITHERSPOON.  363 

A  NEW  ENGLAND  CLERGYMAN. 

As  a  minister  was  walking  upon  one  of  our  eastern  wharves, 
he  heard  a  man  in  a  fishing  boat  just  pulled  up,  swearing  very 
profanely,  and  resolved  on  reproving  him.  For  this  purpose 
he  stepped  up  to  the  boat,  and  began  to  enquire  concerning  the 
manner  of  taking  fish.  The  fisherman  answered  this  enquiry 
by  saying,  that  for  one  kind  of  fish  he  baited  his  hook  with 
such  a  material,  and  for  such  other  kind  of  fish,  baited  his 
hook  with  such  an  article.  The  clergyman  asked,  "  Do  you 
not  take  any  without  bait  ?"  "  No,"  said  the  fisherman,  "  I 
never  did  but  one  ;  one  fool  bit  the  naked  hook."  "  Well," 
said  the  clergyman,"  the  devil  is  a  great  fisherman,  and  to 
take  the  ambitious  he  baits  with  the  honor  of  the  world,  and 
to  take  the  avaricious  he  baits  with  silver  and  gold,  and  for  the 
pleasure-seekers  he  baits  with  sensual  gratifications,  but  the 
profane  swearer  is  like  your  foolish  fish,  he  bites  at  the  naked 
hook. 


REV.  DR.  WITHERSPOON. 


The  Rev.  Dr.  Witherspoon,  formerly  president  of  Princeton 
College,  was  once  on  board  a  packet  ship,  where,  among  other 
passengers,  was  a  professed  atheist.  This  unhappy  man  was 
very  fond  of  troubling  every  one  with  his  peculiar  belief,  and 
of  broaching  the  subject  as  often  as  he  could  get  any  one  to 
listen  to  him.  He  did  not  believe  in  a  God  and  a  future  state, 
not  he !  By-and-bye  there  came  on  a  terrible  storm,  and  the 
prospect  was  that  all  would  be  drowned.  There  was  much 
consternation  on  board,  but  no  one  was  so  greatly  frightened 
as  the  professed  atheist.  In  this  extremity,  he  sought  out  the 
clergyman,  and  found  him  in  the  cabin,  calm  and  collected,  in 


384  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

the  midst  of  danger,  and  thus  addressed  him :  "  Oh,  Dr. 
Witherspoon  !  Dr.  Witherspoon  !  we're  all  going  ;  we  have  but 
a  short  time  to  stay.  Oh,  how  the  vessel  rocks ;  we're  all 
going;  don't  you  think  we  are,  doctor?"  The  doctor  turned 
to  him  with  a  solemn  look,  and  replied  in  broad  Scotch,  "  Nae 
doubt,  nae  doubt,  man ;  we're  a'  ganging ;  but  you  and  I 
dinna  gang  the  same  way." 


A  GOOD  PREACHER. 


How  beautiful  is  simplicity  !  Who  can  read  the  following 
illustrations  of  faith  without  emotion? 

A  beloved  minister  of  the  gospel  was  one  day  speaking  of 
that  active  living  faith,  which  should  at  all  times  cheer  the 
heart  of  the  sincere  follower  of  Jesus ;  and  related  a  beautiful 
illustration  that  had  just  occurred  in  his  own  family. 

He  had  gone  into  a  cellar,  which,  in  winter,  was  quite  dark, 
and  entered  by  a  trap-door.  A  little  daughter,  only  three 
years  old,  was  trying  to  find  him,  and  came  to  the  trap-door; 
but,  on  looking  down,  all  was  dark^  dark — and  she  called, 
"Are  you  down  cellar,  papa?" 

"  Yes  ;  would  you  like  to  come,  Mary?" 

"  It  is  dark  ;  I  caiiH  come,  papa." 

"  Well,  my  daughter,  I  am  right  below  you ;  and  I  can  seo 
you,  though  you  cannot  see  me,  and  if  you  will  drop  yourself, 
I  will  catch  you." 

"  Oh  !  I  should  fall ;  I  can't  see  you,  papa." 

"  I  know  it,"  he  answered  ;  "  but  I  am  really  here,  and  you 
shall  not  fall  or  hurt  yourself.  If  you  will  jump,  I  will  catch 
you  safely." 

Little  Mary  strained  her  eyes  to  the  utmost,  but  she  could 
catch  no  glimpse  of  her  father.     She  hesitated,  then  advanced 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  [ibo 

n  little  farther,  then,  summoning  all  her  resolution,  she  threw 
herself  forward,  and  was  received  safely  in  her  father's  arms. 

A  few  days  after,  she  again  discovered  the  cellar  door  open  ; 
and,  supposing  her  father  to  be  there,  she  called,  "  Shall  I 
come  again,  papa  ?" 

"  Yes,  my  dear,  in  a  minute,"  he  replied ;  and  had  just  time 
to  reach  his  arms  towards  her,  when,  in  her  childish  glee,  she 
fell  shouting  into  his  arms,  and,  clasping  his  neck,  said,  "  I 
hnew^  dear  papa,  f  should  not  fall." 


REV.  DR.  BALDWIN. 

The  Rev,  Dr.  Baldwin,  when  living  in  New  Hampshire,  was 
under  an  engagement  to  preach  at  some  distance  from  home ; 
but,  having  set  out  too  late  to  reach  the  place  of  his  appoint- 
ment on  the  same  day,  he  found  himself  at  night  on  a  rough 
and  dreary  road,  which  lay,  for  the  most  part,  through  the 
woods.  Being  very  much  fatigued  with  his  ride  on  horseback, 
he  resolved  to  tarry,  for  the  night,  at  the  first  house  he  might 
find.  He  came  to  a  sort  of  cabin,  at  the  door  of  which  he 
knocked.  A  woman  presented  herself,  of  whom  he  begged 
the  favour  of  a  night's  entertainment  for  himself  and  his 
horse.  She  eyed  him  suspiciously,  for  the  doctor,  (when  in 
his  old  hat  and  threadbare  clothes,  was  not  particularly  pre- 
possessing in  his  appearance,)  but  finally  told  him  that  he 
might  stay.  The  doctor  put  up  his  horse  in  the  old,  rickety 
barn,  and  then  returned  to  the  house.  Here,  upon  a  pine-wood 
table,  he  found  a  bowl  of  milk,  a  loaf  of  bread,  and  a  small 
quantity  of  butter — the  materials  for  his  supper.  The  good 
woman,  after  giving  him  an  invitation  to  be  seated  and  partake, 
added,  as  she  looked  earnestly  in  his  face,  "  There,  such  9R 

33 


oS6  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

the  house  affords,  I  give  you — if  you  are  a  good  man.,  it  is 
good  enough;  and  if  you  are  not  a  good  man.,  it  is  altogetJier 
too  goody 


REV.  MR    BUSHNEL. 

Mr.  Bushnel,  of  Utica,  New  York,  a  Wesleyan  Methodist 
preacher,  having  business  at  a  neighbouring  town,  was  obliged, 
in  consequence,  to  see  the  landlord  of  the  village  inn ;  so  he 
stopped  at  his  house.  When  he  entered  the  bar-room,  he  saw 
about  twenty  men,  most  of  whom  were  intoxicated — several  of 
them  quite  dmnk.  After  a  little  time,  one  of  them  said  some- 
thing to  Mr.  Bushnel,  who  replied  in  a  courteous  manner,  and 
spoke  of  the  subject  of  temperance.  Immediately  the,  attention 
of  the  assembly  was  arrested,  and  the  cause  was  denounced 
as  the  work  of  prie«?ts  and  politicians. 

Mr.  Bushnel,  finding  it  impossible  to  stem  the  current  of 
abuse  by  an  appeal  to  their  reason,  proposed  to  sing  a  temper- 
ance song ;  to  which  they  all  agreed,  and  he  accordingly  com- 
menced the  "  Staunch  Teetotaller."  On  glancing  around  the 
room,  after  he  had  concluded,  he  observed  the  tear  trickling 
down  the  cheek  of  almost  everv  mafli.  The  sentiment  of  the 
song,  and  the  melodious,  touching  manner  in  which  it  was 
sung,  had  awakened  their  purest  sensibilities  —  had  carried 
their  thoughts  back  to  their  families  and  firesides,  surrounded, 
as  they  once  were,  with  plenty,  happiness,  and  affection ;  and 
then  the  contrast  of  a  drunkard's  home — its  dark  wretchedness 
and  misery,  were  wisely  presented  to  their  minds ;  and  those 
hardened  men  could  not  resist  the  appeal,  but  acknowledged 
its  truth  by  tears !  The  song  was  unanimously  called  for 
again,  and  their  wishes  were  gratified  by  its  repetition.  Soon 
after,  the  landlord  came  in ;  and  Mr.  B.  was  requested  to  re- 
peat it  for  his  especial  benefit.     It  produced  the  same  effect 


REV.    MR.    WALKER  387 

upon  him;  and,  after  he  had  concluded,  he  grasped  him  by 
the  hand,  and  exclaimed,  "  I  will  never  sell  another  glass  of 
liquor  as  long  as  I  live !"  He  acted  immediately  on  his  reso- 
lution, cut  down  his  sign-post,  and  closed  his  bar;  the  others 
promising  to  go  to  the^  temperance  meeting  that  evening,  and 
sign  the  pledge.     And  they  all  did  so,  except  one. 


REV.  MR.  WALKER. 


A  DIFFICULTY  haviug  arisen  in  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Rome,  New  York,  between  the  pastor  and  the  people,  a  coun- 
cil was  called.  Mr.  W.  made  out  charges  of  slander  against 
five  or  six  of  his  brethren,  and  procured  his  witnesses.  They 
also  made  out  charges  against  Mr.  W.  for  his  improper  expres- 
sions concerning  them.  But  the  council,  soon  after  its  organi- 
zation, decided,  for  certain  reasons,  that  it  was  improper  for 
them  to  act  as  a  council  in  the  case,  and  so  dissolved.  Thus 
the  way  to  adjust  the  difficulties  of  the  church  seemed  hedged 
up.  Rev.  Mr.  L.,  of  Auburn,  now  rose  and  delivered  a  solemn 
^address  to  the  church  ;  and  his  address  was  followed  by  a 
moving  scene.  One  of  the  brethren  who  was  complained  of 
by  Mr.  W.  had  been  to  Sherburne,  to  engage  Rev.  Mr.  Truair, 
of  that  place,  as  an  advocate.  In  that  town  God  was  pouring 
out  his  Spirit ;  and  Mr.  D.  returned  convicted  of  his  errors. 
At  this  interesting  moment  he  came  forward,  took  his  pastor 
by  the  hand,  and  made  the  most  humble  and  melting  confession 
of  his  faults.  Mr.  W.  as  frankly  forgave  him,  and  cordially 
embraced  him  as  a  friend  and  brother.  No  sooner  had  he 
done  this  than  Mr.  D.  kneeled  down  and  poured  out  his  soul 
in  an  appropriate,  humble,  penitential  prayer.  Before  he  con- 
cluded, two-thirds  of  the  audience  were  bathed  in  tears.     Ho 


3&!J  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

was  followed  by  addresses  and  prayers  from  some  ot  the  coun- 
cil ;  and  then  another  was  readv  to  confess  his  faults,  and  then 
another,  to  the  last  of  the  accused;  each  one  taking  Mr.  Walk- 
er by  the  hand,  and  receiving  forgiveness.  He  in  turn  asked 
their  forgiveness  wherein  he  had  expressed  himself  improperly 
towards  them.  Pardon  was  also  asked  of  the  church,  and 
cheerfully  granted.  This  opened  the  door  for  Mr.  W.'s  friends, 
who,  one  after  another,  confessed  whatever  they  had  said,  in 
an  unchristian  manner,  against  the  opposite  party.  Thus  two 
whole  days,  with  the  exception  of  time  occupied  in  hearing 
two  sermons,  was  spent  in  mutual  confession  and  forgiveness. 
Before  the  council  separated,  they  took  the  papers  which  con- 
tained the  charges  on  both  sides,  held  them  up  to  the  view  of 
the  audience,  declared  they  were  about  to  make  a  burnt-sacri- 
fice of  them,  and  committed  them  to  the  flames.  On  the  even- 
ing of  the  second  day,  a  conference  meeting  was  held,  in  which 
several  were  so  deeply  impressed  as  to  ask  for  prayers.  From 
tiiat  time  a  revival  of  religion  commenced.  The  above  facts 
occurred  in  Rome  in  1819-20. 


A  CLERGYMAN  IN  VIRGINIA. 


A  CLERGYMAN  in  Virginia,  speaking  very  highly  in  com- 
mendation of  Legh  Richmond's  excellent  tract  "  The  Negro 
Servant,"  describes  a  very  interesting  scene  in  connection  with 
it.  He  says  that  he  was  riding  one  day,  and  saw  a  group  of 
coloured  persons  sitting  under  a  tree,  and*eating  their  homely 
dinner.  He  asked  them  if  they  would  like  to  hear  an  account 
of  one  of  their  own  colour  who  became  religious.  They  con- 
sented; and  says  he,  "I  leaned  against  the  tree,  which  spread 
DUt  its  branches  far  beyond  us,  and   I  began  to  read.     There 


REV.    DR.    COKE.  389 

was  soon  breathless  attention.  It  was  sultry  noon-tide,  and 
the  leaves  of  the  tree  made  no  rustling.  Sighs  and  groans 
were  audible,  though  evidently  suppressed  ;  and  tears  coursing 
one  after  another  down  their  sable  cheeks,  showed  that  the 
story  of  poor  William  had  reached  their  hearts." 


REV.  JOHN  COTTON. 


The  Rev.  John  Cotton,  of  Boston,  was  distinguished  for  his 
forbearance  and  meekness,  which  greatly  contributed  to  his 
happiness  and  usefulness.  When  he  was  once  told  that  his 
preaching  was  very  dark  and  comfortless,  he  replied,  "  Let  me 
have  your  prayers,  brother,  that  it  may  be  otherwise."  Having 
once  observed  to  a  person,  who  boasted  of  his  knowledge  of 
the  book  of  Revelation,  that  he  wanted  light  in  those  myste- 
ries, the  man  went  home,  and  sent  him  a  pound  of  candles  ; 
which  insolence  only  excited  a  smile.  "  Mr.  Cotton,"  says 
Dr.  Mather,  "  would  not  set  the  beacon  of  his  great  soul  on 
fire  at  the  landing  of  such  a  little  cock-boat."  A  drunken  fel- 
low, to  make  merriment  for  his  companions,  approached  him 
in  the  street,  and  whispered  in  his  ear,  "  Thou  art  an  old  fool." 
Mr.  Cotton  replied,  "  I  confess  I  am  so ;  the  Lord  make  both 
me  and  thee  wiser  than  we  are,  even  wise  unto  salvation." 


REV.  DR.  COKE. 


The  following  anecdote  was  related  by  Dr.  Coke  himself,  to 
his  brother  in-law. 

In  attempting  to  cross  a  river  in  the  United  States,  Dr.  Coke 

38* 


390  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

missed  the  ford,  and  got  into  deep  water,  and  was  carried,  with 
his  horse,  down  the  stream.  Feeling  himself  in  darigei,  he 
caught  hold  of  a  bough,  and  with  some  difficulty  got  upon  dry 
land,  but  his  horse  was  lost.  After  drying  his  clothes  in  the 
sun,  he  commenced  to  finish  his  journey  on  foot;  and  at  length 
met  a  man  who  directed  him  to  the  nearest  village,  telling  him 

to  inquire  for  a  Mrs. ,  from  whom,  he  had  no  doubt,  ho 

would  receive  very  kind  treatment.     Dr.  C.  found   the  good 
lady's    house,  and  received  all  the  kindness  and  attention  she 
could  show  him.      The  next    morning  he  proceeded  on  his 
journey.     After  a  lapse  of  five  years,  the  Doctor  happened  to 
be  in  America  again.     As  he  was  on  his  way  to  one  of  the 
provincial  conferences,  in  company  with  about  thirty  other  per- 
sons, a  young  man  requested  to  be  allowed  the  favour  of  con- 
versing with  him ;  to  which  he  assented  with  Christian  polite- 
ness.    The  young  man  asked  him  if  he  recollected  being  in 
such  a  part  of  the  States  about  five  years  before,  to  which  he 
replied  in  the  affirmative.     "  And  do  you  recollect,  sir,  in  at- 
tempting to  cross  the  river,  being  nearly  drowned  ?"     "  I  re- 
member it  quite  well."     "  And  do  you  recollect  going  to  the 
house  of  a  widow  lady  in  such  a  village?"     "1  remember  it 
well,"  said  the  doctor,  "  and  never  shall  I  forget  the  kindness 
she  showed  me:"  "  And  do  you  remember,  when  you  departed, 
leaving  a  tract  at  that  lady's  house?"     "I  do  not  recollect 
that,"  said  he,  "  but  it  is  very  possible  that  I  might  do   so." 
"  Yes,  sir,"  said  the  young  man,  "  you  did  leave  there  a  tract, 
which  that  lady  read,  and  the  Lord  blessed  the  reading  of  it 
to  the  conversion  of  her  soul ;  it  was  also  the  means  of  the 
conversion  of  several  of  her  children  and  neighbours ;  and 
there  is  now  in  that  village  a  flourishing  Christian  society." 
The  tears  shed  by  Dr.  Coke  showed  something  of  the  feelings 
of  his  heart.    The  young  man  resumed,  "  I  have  ncft,  sirj  quite 
told  you  all.     I  am  one  of  that  lady's  children,  and  6\V^  rriy 
conversion  to  God,  to  the  gracious  influence  with  tvhich  he  ac- 


REV.    3IR.    CROSS.  391 

companied  the  reading  of  that  tract  to  my  mind ;  and  I  am, 
Dr.  Coke,  on  my  way  to  conference,  to  be  proposed  as  a 
preacher." 


REV.  MR.  CROSS. 


This  gentleman  is  one  of  the  colporteurs  of  the  American 
Tract  Society,  and  the  following  interesting  anecdote  of  the 
success  of  his  labours  was  related  by  the  Rev.  S.  T.  Wells. 

While  visiting  from  house  to  house,  with  an  elder  of  Rev. 
Mr.  J.'s  church,  they  came  to  the  hut  of  a  coal-digger.  "We  will 
not  go  into  that  house,"  said  the  elder,  "the  man  is  so  wicked, 
it  would  be  of  no  use."  Mr.  Cross  maintained  that  such  were 
the  very  men  he  was  sent  to.  They  entered  the  hut,  which 
indicated  great  poverty  both  within  and  without,  and  found  sit- 
ting on  a  broken  bench  in  the  corner,  a  large  athletic  man, 
nearly  naked.  He  had  remained  unwashed  so  long  that  the 
coal-dust  lay  like  scales  all  over  his  body.  The  face  of  his 
wife  was  black  and  swollen  with  bruises  which  he  had  given 
her,  and  his  own  countenance  was  very  fierce.  "We  have 
come,"  said  Mr.  Cross,  "to  sell  you  some  good  religious  books, 
and  to  have  some  conversation  with  you  on  the  subject  of  re- 
ligion." "I  have  no  money,  sir,"  he  said,  "and  don't  want 
any  of  your  books."  "  If  you  have  no  money,"  said  Mr. 
Cross,  "  you  shall  have  the  books  and  welcome.  You  have  a 
soul,  and  you  must  die ;  you  are  not  prepared  to  die  now,  are 
you,  friend  ?"  His  eye,  which  had  been  fixed  with  a  savage 
glare  upon  him  till  this  question,  lowered  a  little,  and  began  to 
soften,  and  he  replied  that  he  was  not  ready  to  die.  Before 
Mr.  Gross  left  him,  he  wept  like  a  child^  and  told  him  that  he 
was  the  first  man  who  had  ever  come  there  to  talk  with  him 
about  his  soul. 


392  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


REV.  DR.  COTTON  MATHER. 

The  following  anecdote  is  full  of  instruction,  both  as  illus- 
trative of  Dr.  Mather's  ingenuity  in  the  communication  of  di- 
vine truth,  and  as  suggesting  a  valuable  hint  to  ministers  of 
the  present  day. 

In  the  year  1696,  Bommaseen,  a  chief  of  the  American 
Indians,  was  a  prisoner  in  Boston,  with  some  others  of  his 
countrymen.  He  desired  a  conference  with  one  of  the  Boston 
ministers ;  Dr.  Mather  waited  upon  him,  and  was  told  that  he 
wished  to  be  instructed  in  the  Christian  religion,  for  he  was 
afraid  that  the  French  had  imposed  upon  them  in  what  they 
had  taught  them  respecting  Christianity.  The  doctor  inquired 
of  him  what  appeared  to  them  most  suspicious  in  the  instruc- 
tions of  the  French,  and  Bommaseen  said  that  they  had  told 
him  that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  was  of  the  French  nation ;  that 
his  mother,  the  Virgin  Mary,  was  a  French  lady  ;  that  English- 
men murdered  him ;  and  that  as  he  rose  from  the  dead,  and 
had  ascended  to  heaven,  all  who  would  recommend  themselves 
to  his  favour  must  avenge  his  quarrel  on  the  English,  as  far  as 
they  could.  The  doctor,  knowing  that  the  best  medium  of 
communicating  religious  knowledge  to  the  Indians  was  to  deal 
much  in  similitudes,  began  to  think  of  some  suitable  imagery, 
and  as  a  cup  of  drink  stood  upon  the  table,  he  employed  that 
as  his  medium  of  instruction. 

He  told  them  that  the  Lord  Jesus  had  given  to  men  a  good 
religion,  which  might  be  compared  to  the  good  drink  in  the  cup 
on  the  table.  That  if  we  take  this  good  religion,  like  the  good 
drink,  into  our  hearts,  it  will  do  us  good,  and  preserve  us  from 
death.  That  the  Bible,  God's  book,  is  the  cup  wherein  that 
good  drink  of  religion  is  offered  unto  us.  That  the.  French, 
having  the  cup  of  good  drink  in  their  hands,  had  put  poi- 
son into  it,  and  then  made  the  Indians  drink,  and  that  this 


REV.    DR.    COTTON    MATHER.  393 

made  them  mad,  leading  them  to  kill  the  English,  though 
they  knew  it  would  end  in  their  own  destruction.  That  it 
was  plain  the  English  had  put  no  poison  into  the  drink, 
for  they  set  the  cup  wide  open,  and  invited  all  men,  even 
the  Indians,  into  whose  language  Mr.  Elliot  had  translated 
the  Bible,  to  come  and  see  before  they  tasted ;  but  that 
they  might  fairly  infer  the  French  had  put  poison  into  the 
good  drink,  because  they  kept  the  cup  closely  shut,  (not 
having  given  them  the  Bible,)  and  kept  their  hands  to  the  eyes 
of  the  Indians  when  they  put  it  to  their  mouths. 

The  poor  Indians,  having  expressed  their  satisfaction  with 
what  he  had  said,  entreated  him  farther  to  explain  about  the  cup 
of  good  drink  and  the  poison.  He  then,  in  the  most  simple 
manner,  placed  before  them  the  chief  points  of  Christianity  ;  and 
showed  them  how  the  Catholics  had  poisoned  and  corrupted 
most  of  its  truths,  and  that  it  was  important  for  them  to  dis- 
tinguish between  truth  and  error.  He  then  said — "  To  obtain 
the  pardon  of  your  sins,  you  must  confess  them  to  God,  and 
pray  that  he  would  pardon  them  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ, 
who  died  for  poor  sinners ;  and  if  you  place  your  eye  on  Jesus 
Christ  only,  when  you  beg  the  pardon  of  your  sins,  God  will 
forgive  them.  You  need  confess  your  sins  to  none  but  God, 
except  in  cases  where  men  have  known  your  sins,  or  have 
been  hurt  by  them ;  but  even  then,  none  but  God  can  pardon 
them."  He  then  showed  them  how  the  French  had  corrupted 
the  truth,  by  enjoining  them  to  confess  their  sins  to  a  priest,  to 
carry  skins  lo  him,  and  to  do  penance  at  his  bidding. 

The  poor  creatures  were  much  delighted  with  this  discourse 
of  the  doctor,  fell  at  his  feet,  kissed  his  hands,  and  showed' 
every  mark  of  affection.  Bommaseen,  lifting  Ijis  eye-s  and 
hands  to  heaven,  said,  "  Sir,  I  thank  you  for  these  things ;  I 
rf  solve  to  spit  up  all  the  French  poison  ;  you  shall  be  my  fa- 
ther, I  will  be  your  son  ;  I  beseech  you  continue  to  instruct  me 


oy-l  THE    A3IERICAN    CLERGY. 

in  that  religion,  which  may  bring  me  to  the  salvation  of  my 
soul." 


Dr.  Franklin  once  received  a  very  useful  lesson  from  the 
excellent  Doctor,  which  he  thus  relates  in  a  letter  to  his  son  : — 

The  last  time  I  saw  your  father,  was  in  1724.  On  taking 
my  leave,  he  showed  me  a  shorter  way  out  of  the  house,  by  a 
narrow  passage,  which  was  crossed  by  a  beam  over  head.  We 
were  still  talking  as  I  withdrew,  he  accompanying  me  behind, 
and  I  turning  towards  him,  when  he  said  hastily,  "  Stoop, 
stoop !"  I  did  not  understand  him  till  I  felt  my  head  hit  against 
the  beam.  He  was  a  man  who  never  missed  an  opportunity 
of  giving  instruction  ;  and  upon  this  he  said  to  me,  "  You  are 
young,  and  have  the  world  before  you ;  learn  to  stoop  as  you 
go  through  it,  and  you  will  avoid  many  hard  thumps."  This 
advice,  thus  beat  into  my  head,  has  frequently  been  of  use  to 
me ;  and  I  often  think  of  it,  when  I  see  pride  mortified,  and 
misfortune  brought  upon  people  by  their  carrying  their  heads 
too  high. 


Dr.  Mather  was  remarkable  for  the  sweetness  of  his  temper. 
He  took  some  interest  in  the  political  concerns  of  his  country, 
and,  on  this  account,  as  well  as  because  he  faithfully  reproved 
iniquity,  he  had  many  enemies.  Many  abusive  letters  were 
sent  him,  all  of  which  he  tied  up  ia.a  packet,  and  wrote  upon 
the  cover,  "  Libels  ; — Father,  forgive  them." 


I  happened  once,  says  Dr.  Mather,  to  be  present  in  the  room 
where  a  dying  man  could  not  leave  the  world  until  he  lamented 
to  a  minister  whom  he  had  sent  for,  the  unjust  calumnies  and 
injuries  which  he  had  often  cast  upon  him.  The  minister  asked 


AN    AGED    CLERGYMAN.  311") 

the  poor  penitent  what  was  the  occasion  of  this  abusive  con- 
duct ;  whether  he  had  been  imposed  upon  by  any  false  report. 
The  man  made  this  answer:  "No,  sir,  it  was  merely  this;  I 
thought  you  were  a  good  man,  and  that  you  did  much  good  in 
the  world,  and  therefore  I  hated  you.  Is  it  possible,  is  it  possi- 
ble," he  added,  "  for  such  a  wretch  to  find  pardon  1" 

What  a  contrast  did  the  character  of  the  doctor  himself  pre- 
sent to  all  this  !  It  was  his  laudable  ambition  to  say,  that  "  He 
did  not  know  of  any  person  in  the  world  who  had  done  him  any 
ill  office  but  he  had  done  him  a  good  one  for  it." 


AN  AGED  CLERGYMAN 


An  aged  clergyman,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  not  long 
since  gave  a  very  interesting  narrative  of  scenes  in  which  he 
was,  personally  concerned. 

Two  young  men  from  Birmingham,  in  England,  emigrated 
to  the  United  States  in  1793.  On  the  vessel  arriving  in  sight 
of  her  destined  port,  a  storm  suddenly  arose,  the  ship  \\^s 
wrecked,  and  the  two  brothers,  always  affectionately  attached 
to  each  other,  died  locked  in  each  other's  arms.  Their  bodies 
being  washed  ashore,  they  were  decently  buried,  and  our  re- 
verend friend  preached  a  funeral  sermon  from  the  counsel  of 
Solomon,  "  Boast  not  thyself  of  to-morrow,  for  thou  k  no  west 
not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth."  It  was  ascertained  from 
their  papers  from  whence  they  came,  and  how  their  friends 
could  be  addressed  :  the  minister  wrote  to  their  widowed  mother, 
now  most  affectingly  bereaved  of  her  sons,  and  deeply  sym- 
pathized with  her  under  her  accumulated  sorrows.  A  corre- 
spondence ensued,  and  our  friend  ultimately  received  a  piece  of 
plate  with  a  suitable  inscription  on  it,  recording  his  kindness. 
This  he  carefully  placed  in  his  study. 

Many  years  afterwards,  a  gentleman  from  England,  over- 


396  THE    AMERICAN    CLEKGY. 

taken  in  a  violent  storm,  sought  for  shelter  at  the  house  of  the 
minister,  where  he  was  invited  to  stay  for  the  night.  As,  on 
the  next  morning,  he  was  looking  over  the  worthy  pastor's 
study,  his  eye  caught  the  plate,  the  inscription  on  which  he 
read  with  deep  interest,  for  these  young  men  were  his  cousins. 
The  character  of  the  subsequent  intercourse  between  the  minis- 
ter and  his  new  friend  need  not  be  described. 


REV.  MR.  BENNETT. 


The  following  is  an  extract  from  an  anniversary  sermon, 
delivered  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bennett,  of  Woburn,  Mass.  The 
introductory  remarks  are  so  judicious  in  their  character,  and 
are  so  very  naturally  connected  with  the  anecdote  which  fol- 
lows, that  no  apology  will  be  needed  for  their  appearance : — 

I  am  sorry  to  say  it,  the  first  open  complaint  is  made  against 
the  pastor,  in  three  cases  out  of  four,  by  a  deacon  of  the  church. 
Deacons,  the  world  over,  are  like  Jeremiah's  figs — that  is,  very 
sweet  or  very  sour.  They  either  aid  their  pastor,  and,  like 
Aaron  and  Hur,  stay  up  his  hands,  or  decidedly  the  reverse. 
It  is  a  sober  fact,  and  it  ought  to  make  the  ears  of  such  dea- 
cons tingle,  that  at  least  three  out  of  four  of  all  the  ministers 
in  New  England,  who  have  been  driven  away  from  their  peo- 
ple, have  been  driven  away  by  deacons ;  by  men  who,  in  one 
tespect,  have  with  a  vengeance  "  magnified  their  office."  I 
might  point  you  to  numerous  examples  all  over  the  land.  But 
I  forbear.  I  thank  God,  however,  that  I  have  never  been 
plagued  by  such  deacons.  I  have  never  had  the  slightest  diffi- 
culty with  any  of  my  deacons,  except  in  a  single  instance,  and 
that  lasted  but  five  minute§.  It  was  with  good  deacon  Wyman, 
at  the  commencement  of  the  Temperance  Reformation  in  182G. 
Some  one  had  told  him  that  I  said  at  a  church  meeting  that  I 


REV.    DR.    L.  397 

would  never  drink  another  drop  of  ardent  spirit,  (unless  or- 
dered by  a  physician,)  or  give  it  to  a  workman  or  a  visitor, 
while  I  lived.     The  deacon  called  upon  me  the  next  day,  and 
asked  me  if  I  said  so.     I  told  him  I  did^  and  should  stick  to  it, 
at  all  hazards.     "  Well,"  said  he,  "  then  you  will  not  be  a  mi- 
nister of  this  parish  three  months."     "Very  well,"  said  I,  "I 
have  taken  my  stand,  and  if  I  knew  I  should  be  drawn  in 
quarters  within  three  months,  if  I  did  not  recant,  I  would  not 
do  it."     Said  the  deacon,  "  You  are  a  crazy  man,  and  I  will 
not  talk  with  you  ;"  and  arose  to  go  out  of  my  house,  when  I 
thus  accosted  him  :  "  Deacon  Wyman,  the  next  time  you  enter 
your  closet,  will  you  ask  God  to  teach  you  by  his  Spirit,  who 
is  right  on  this  subject,  you  or  I  ?"     "  I  tell  you,"  said  he,  "  I 
will  not  talk  with  you,"  and  marched  out  of  doors.     The  next 
morning,  long  before  sunrise,  some  one  knocked — I  went  to 
the  door,  and  behold,  there  stood  deacon  Wyman.  He  instantly 
grasped  my  hand,  and,  with  tears  rolling  down  his  cheeks,  ex- 
claimed, "My  dear  pastor,  I  went  home  from  your  house  yes- 
terday,  and   in  accordance  with  your  advice,  retired   to   my 
closet,  and  asked  God  to  teach  me  by  his  Spirit,  who  was  right 
in  regard  to  the  use  of  ardent  spirits,  you  or  I.  In  five  minutes 
a  flood  of  light  broke  in  upon  my  mind,  and  I  was  fully  con- 
vinced that  you  were  right,  and  I  was  wrong.     And  now,"  said 
he,  "  go  ahead  with  your  temperance  reformation — to  the  day 
of  my  death  I  will  do  all  in  my  power  to  sustain  you."     He 
was  as  good  as  his  word.     He  did   sustain  me  as  long  as  he 
lived." 


REV.  DR.  L. 


It  has  been  well  said  that  weighty  solemn  sentences,  dropped 
into  the  ear  of  the  sinner  in  private,  are  often  far  more  useful 
than  even    the    most  elopuent  sermons.     Some  years  since, 

34 


398  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

Mr.  B.,  a  worldly  man,  who  dealt  in  lottery  tickets,  was  one  • 
of  the  committee  of  supply  for  a  rich  evangelical  congregation, 
and  the  Rev.  Dr.  L.  was  invited  to  supply  the  pulpit  for  a 
Sabbath  or  two.  On  their  way  from  the  meeting-house  to  the 
residence  of  Mr.  B.,  Dr.  L.,  who  had  discovered  that  several 
persons  had  been  opposed  to  his  being  invited  to  preach,  re- 
marked, "  If  I  had  known  that  so  many  had  been  opposed  to 
me,  I  do  not  know  that  I  should  have  preached ;  but  I  have 
one  consolation — I  preached  the  truth  to  them."  "Yes,"  re- 
plied Mr.  B.,  somewhat  hesitatingly.  The  faithful  minister 
then  looked  him  full  in  the  face,  and  said  to  him,  with  great 
solemnity  and  emphasis,  "  Wliy  do  you  not  believe  it  then  V 
The  inquiry  seemed  to  strike  him  dumb;  he  retired  to  reflect,  ^ 
to  weep  over  his  misspent  life,  to  repent  and  pray.  The 
solemn  inquiry,  of  which  conscience  told  him  the  justice,  was 
like  "  a  nail  fastened  in  a  sure  place."  He  was  soon  brought 
to  "  the  feet  of  Jesus,  clothed,  and  in  his  right  mind,"  and  be- 
came one  of  the  most  active  and  useful  Christians  in  the  city 
of  his  residence. 


A  WISE  CLERGYMAN. 


"  An  Atheist !"  exclaimed  a  devout  clergyman,  when  Mr.  B. 
was  introduced  to  him  to  advocate  the  cause  of  infidelity  ;  '"  it 
is  impossible."  ' 

"Yes,  sir,"  said  Mr.  B.,  "I  am  an  Atheist;  and  I  should 
be  glad  of  an  argument,  as  I  hold  it  impossible  for  any  man  to 
prove  that  there  is  a  God  ;  and,  sir," 

"  But  hold,"  said  the  minister;  "  T  must  first  be  satisfied. that 
you  are  an  Atheist." 

"  Well,  sir,"  said  Mr.  B.,  "  do  I  not  tell  you  that  I  am  so  ?" 

"  But,  my  Bible."  said  the  minister,  "  declares  that  every 


A    WISE    CLERGYMAN.  399 

human  heart,  which  of  course  includes  yours,  is  not  only  des- 
perately wicked,  but  deceitful  above  all  things;  and  the  Holy 
Ghost,  therefore,  asks.  Who  can  know  it?  Peradventure,  you 
may  be  deceived  in  this  matter." 

"But,  sir,"  said  Mr.  B.,  "t/o  I  not  know  what  I  believe? — 
am  I  not  a  rational  creature?" 

"Well,"  said  the  minister,  "  let  us  try  the  point.  I  will  pro- 
pose a  test  to  which  you  can  submit  without  difficulty  or 
trouble;  if  you  will  pledge  yourself  to  pursue  the  course  which 
I  shall  direct,  I  will  then  proceed  to  the  argument  which  you 
seem  so  much  to  desire." 

"I  do  not  wish."  said  Mr.  B,,  "to  pledge  myself  thus  blindly 
to  do  anv  thinii.     What  would  vou  have  me  to  do?" 

"  It  shall  be,"  said  the  minister,  "  such  a  thing  as  shall  be 
perfectly  consistent  with  your  professed  belief,  and  reasonable, 
and  easy.  If  (yourself  being  the  judge)  it  shall  not  be  so, 
according  to  your  own  scheme^  you  shall  be  under  no  obliga- 
tion to  perform  it." 

"Very  well,"  said  Mr.  B.  promptly,  "I  will.  What  do  you 
propose,  sir?" 

,.  "This  night,"  said  the  minister,  "when  deep  sleep  shall  fall 
upon  man,  and  thick  darkness  shall  cover  the  world,  you  shall, 
taking  solemn  thought,  and  after  deep  meditation,  walk  delibe- 
rately and  alone  to  yonder  hill,  and  in  the  thick  darkness  of  the 
forest  which  covers  its  summit,  you  shall  stand  and  raise  your 
eyes  and  your  clenched  hands  to  the  firmament  above  you,  and 
then  shall  declare: — '  There  is  no  God  who  created  me — There 
is  no  God  who  preserves  me — There  is  no  God  whom  I  fear.' 
Will  you  do  this?" 

The  Atheist  was  confounded  with  the  proposition. 

"Oh,"  said  the  minister,  you  are  no  Atheist;  I  was  sure 
you  were  mistaken.  We  agree  on  this  point.  There  is  no 
ground  for  an  argument." 


400  THE    AMERICAN    CLERG!^. 


REV.  MR.  HULL. 


Father  Hull  was  a  preacher  of  the  old  school,  connected 
^\ith  the  South  Carolina  conference.  Passing  along  the  high- 
way  one  evening,  in  a  strange  and  wicked  part  of  the  country, 
weary  and  faint,  he  called  at  a  respectable-looking  house  to 
ask  for  a  lodging.  After  a  while,  as  he  sat  by  the  fireside,  a 
number  of  well-dressed  ladies  and  gentlemen  entered  his  room, 
and  very  shortly  they  began  to  dance  to  the  music  of  a  violin. 
It  was  a  ball,  at  which  the  stranger  looked  silently  on.  At 
length  a  partner  was  wanted,  and  the  old  gentleman  was  in- 
vited to  take  the  floor.  "  Certainly,  madam,"  he  replied,  walk- 
ing out  on  the  floor  as  he  spoke;  "but  I  have  long  made  it  a 
rule  never  to  commence  any  business  till  I  have  asked  the 
direction  of  the  Lord,  and  his  blessing  upon  it.  Will  you  all 
join  in  the  prayer  with  me?"  He  instantly  fell  on  his  knees, 
and  began  to  pray.  Some  kneeled,  others  stood  still,  all  were 
petrified  with  astonishment.  In  prayer  he  was  intensely  earn- 
est and  powerful,  and  the  heavens  and  the  earth  seemed  drawn 
together.  Some  groaned,  others  shrieked  aloud,  and  many  fell 
prostrate  like  dead  men  on  the  floor.  The  dance  was  turned 
into  a  religious  meeting,  from  which  many  dated  their  conver- 
sion to  God,  and  was  the  commencement  of  an  extensive 
revival 


REV.  JOHN  SUMMERFIELD. 


On  a  journey  in  the  stage  from  Brunswick  to  Trenton,  this 
worthy  young  clergyman,  with  two  others,  occupied  the  mid- 
dle seat.  His  pale,  youthful  countenance,  with  his  general 
appearance,  led  an  elderly  respectable  gentleman,  who  occu- 


REV.    JOHN    SUMMERFIELD.  401 

pied  the  front  seat,  to  suppose  him  to  have  been  a  student  from 
Princeton  college.  Under  this  impression,  he  requested  him, 
— rather  peremjAarily^  however, — to  change  seats.  Though 
struck  with  surprise,  rather  perhaps  at  the  manner  in  which 
the  request  was  made,  than  at  the  request  itself,  after  a  mo- 
mentary hesitation — during  which  his  pale  cheek  was  tinged 
with  a  momentary  flush — he  changed  seats  without  uttering  a 
word.  Of  all  in  the  stage,  not  one,  on  the  ground  of  health, 
(which  was  the  reason  assigned  afterwards  for  making  the  re- 
quest,) required  accommodation  so  much  as  Mr.  S.  As  it  was, 
the  change  of  seat  affected  him  considerably.  It  is  pleasant  to 
add,  however,  that  the  gentleman  having  arrived  in  Trenton, 
and  discovered  his  mistake,  took  the  earliest  opportunity  to 
apologize  to  him,  and  by  the  greatest  kindness  endeavoured  to 
remove  any  unpleasant  feeling  which  he  might  inadvertently 
have  occasioned.  The  meek  spirit  of  his  Master,  with  which 
Mr.  S.  was  imbued,  led  him  at  once  to  forget  the  occurrence, 
and  to  cherish  the  most  sincere  gratitude  for  all  the  after  kind- 
ness of  this  gentleman,  with  whom  an  interesting  correspond- 
ence was  kept  up. 


It  has  been  well  remarked  that  that  clergyman  cannot  have 
the  feelings  of  a  pastor,  who  does  not  cherish  special  love  for 
the  young  of  his  flock.  The  following  is  one  of  many  instances 
of  attention  to  the  lambs  of  the  Christian  fold  in  the  life  of  this 
highly  popular  minister: — 

A  boy,  about  eleven  years  of  age,  after  one  of  his  sermons 
to  children,  remained  till  the  congregation  had  nearly  dispersed, 
when  he  attracted  Mr.  Summerfield's  notice;  who,  stepping 
forward,  said,  "  My  little  boy,  do  you  want  any  thing  with 
me?" — The  little  fellow  appeared  overcome  with  his  feelings, 
and  could  only  say,  "  Mr.  Summerfield."  "Well,  my  love, 
what  do  you  want  with  Mr.  Summerfield?"    The  boy,  being 

34* 


402  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

now  encouraged,  said  that  he  wished  Mr.  Summerfield  would 
call  at  his  mother's  house:  on  inquiring  where  his  mother 
.ived,  the  name  of  the  street  and  the  number  of  the  house  were 
given.  "What  is  your  name?" — "John  Brown,"  replied  the 
boy.  "  Well,  John  Brown,  to-morrow  at  eleven  o'clock,  I  shall 
pay  you  a  visit."  Accordingly,  at  the  time  appointed,  Mr. 
Summerfield  waited  upon  him;  he  found  John  busily  employed 
sweeping  and  fixing  the  fire,  and  preparing  for  his  visitor. 
"Well,  John,  here  I  am,  according  to  my  appointment." — John 
requested  him  to  take  a  seat,  until  he  had  found  his  mother. 
She  was  a  pious  woman,  and  said  that  her  son  had  heard  him 
preach,  whenever  he  had  addressed  the  children,  and  that  his 
mind  in  consequence  had  been  much  impressed.  Mr.  S.  knelt 
down  and  prayed  with  them;  and  before  he  went  away, 
encouraged  John,  and  gave  him  some  good  advice ;  entered 
his  name  on  the  list  of  those  for  whom  he  felt  a  peculiar  inte- 
rest, and  told  him  that  he  should  keep  his  eyes  upon  him ;  re- 
questing him  to  come  and  speak  to  him  whenever  he  had  an 
opportunity,  that  he  might  ascertain  what  progress  his  little 
friend  John  Brown  was  making.  Carping  criticism,  or  cold 
philosophy  may  despise  these  little  traits  of  character,  but  mi- 
nisterial wisdom  will  admire  them. 


REV.  DR.  J.  M.  MASON. 


Every  one,  says  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  J.  M.  Mason,  of  New 
York,  has  remarked  the  mixed  and  often  ill-assorted  company, 
which  meet  in  a  public  packet  or  stage-coach.  The*  conversa- 
tion, with  all  its  variety,  is  commonly  insipid,  frequently  dis- 
gusting, and  sometimes  insufferable.  There  are  exceptions. 
An  opportunity  now  and  then  occurs  of  spending  an  hour  in  a 


REV.    DR.    J.    31.    MASON.  403 

manner  not  unworthy  of  rational  beings  ;  and  the  incidents  of  a 
btage-coach  may  produce  or  promote  salutary  impressions. 

A  few  years  ago,  one  of  the  stages  which  ply  between  the 
two  principal  cities  of  the  United  States  of  America,  was  filled 
with  a  group  which  could  never  have  been  drawn  together  by 
mutual  choice.  In  the  company  was  a  young  man  of  social 
temper,  affable  manners,  and  considerable  information.  His 
accent  was  barely  sufficient  to  show  that  the  English  was  not 
his  native  tongue ;  and  a  very  slight  peculiarity  in  the  pro- 
nunciation of  the  th^  showed  him  to  be  a  Hollander.  He  had 
early  entered  into  military  life,  had  borne  both  a  Dutch  and  a 
French  commission,  had  seen  real  service,  had  travelled,  was 
master  of  the  English  language,  and  evinced,  by  his  deport- 
ment, that  he  was  no  stranger  to  the  society  of  gentlemen.  He 
had,  however,  a  fault,  too  common  among  military  men,  and 
too  absurd  to  find  an  advocate  among  men  of  sense — he  swore 
very  profanely  and  frequently. 

While  the  horses  were  changing,  a  gentleman  who  sat  on 
the  same  seat  with  him  took  him  by  the  arm,  and  requested 
the  favour  of  his  company  in  a  short  walk.  When  they  were 
so  far  retired  as  not  to  be  overheard,  the  former  observed, 
"Although  I  have  not  the  honour  of  your  acquaintance,  I  per- 
ceive, sir,  that  your  habits  and  feelings  are  those  of  a  gentle- 
man, and  that  nothing  can  be  more  repugnant  to  your  wishes 
than  giving  unnecessary  pain  to  any  of  your  company."  He 
started,  and  replied,  "Most  certainly,  sir !  I  hope  I  have  com- 
mitted no  offence  of  that  sort  ?" 

"  You  will  pardon  me,"  replied  the  other,  "  for  pointing  out 
an  instance  in  which  you  have  not  altogether  avoided  it." 

"  Sir,"  said  he,  "I  shall  be  much  your  debtor  for  so  friendly 
an  act;  for,  upon  my  honour,  I  cannot  conjecture  in  what  I 
have  transgressed." 

"If  you,  sir,"  continued  the  former,  "had  a  very  dear 
friend,  to   whom   you   were   under   unspeakable   obligations, 


404  THE    A31EKICAN    CLERGY. 

should  you  not  be  deeply  wounded  by  any  disrespect  to  him, 
or  even  by  hearing  his  name  introduced,  and  used  wilh  a  fre- 
quency of  repetition  and  a  levity  of  air,  incompatible  with  the 
regard  due  to  his  character?" 

"  Undoubtedly,  and  I  should  not  permit  it ;  but  I  know  not 
that  I  am  chargeable  with  such  indecorum  to  any  of  your 
friends." 

"  Sir,  my  God  is  my  best  friend,  to  whom  I  am  under  infi- 
nite obligations.  I  think  you  must  recollect  that  you  have 
very  frequently,  since  we  commenced  our  journey,  taken  his 
name  in  vain.  This  has  given  to  me,  and  others  of  the  com- 
pany, severe  pain." 

"  Sir,"  answered  he,  with  very  ingenuous  emphasis,  "  I  have 
done  wrong ;  I  confess  the  impropriety.  I  am  ashamed  of  a 
practice  which  I  am  aware  has  no  excuse ;  but  I  have  imper- 
ceptibly fallen  into  it,  and  I  really  swear  without  being  con- 
scious that  I  do  so.  I  will  endeavour  to  abstain  from  it  in 
future ;  and,  as  you  are  next  to  me  on  the  seat,  I  shall  thank 
you  to  touch  my  elbow  as  often  as  1  trespass."  This  was 
agreed  upon ;  the  horn  sounded,  and  the  travellers  resumed 
their  places. 

For  the  space  of  four  or  five  miles,  the  officer's  elbow  was 
jogged  every  few  seconds.  He  always  coloured,  but  bowed, 
and  received  the  hint  without  the  least  symptom  of  displea- 
sure ;  and,  in  a  few  miles  more,  so  mastered  his  propensity  to 
swearing,  that  not  an  oath  was  heard  from  his  lips  for  the  rest 
of  his  journey,  which  was  the  greater  part  of  it. 

After  this,  he  was  more  grave ;  and,  having  ruminated  some 
time,  after  surveying  first  one  and  then  another  of  the  com- 
pany, turned  to  his  admonisher,  and  addressed  him  thus : 

"You  are  a  clergyman,  I  presume,  sir?" 

"  I  am  considered  as  such." 

He  paused ;  and  then,  with  a  smile,  indicated  his  disbelief 


REV.    DR.    J.    M.    MASON.  405 

in  Divine  revelation  in  a  way  which  called  for  further  conver- 
sation on  this  subject. 

He  avowed  himself  an  infidel,  and  an  animated  conversation 
followed.  At  length  he  exclaimed,  "  I  own  I  am  beaten,  com- 
pletely beaten  ;  I  have  nothing  more  to  say." 

A  silence  of  some  minutes  succeeded ;  when  the  young 
military  traveller  said  to  his  theological  friend,  "  I  have  studied 
all  religions,  and  have  not  been  able  to  satisfy  myself" 

"No,  sir,"  answered  he;  "there  is  one  religion  which  you 
have  not  yet  studied." 

"  Pray,  sir,"  cried  the  officer,  roused  and  eager,  "  what  is 
that?" 

"  The  religion,"  replied  the  other,  "  of  salvation  through 
the  redemption  of  the  Son  of  God ;  the  religion  which  will 
sweeten  your  pleasures,  and  soften  your  sorrows ;  which  will 
give  peace  to  your  conscience,  and  joy  to  your  heart ;  which 
will  bear  you  up  under  the  pressure  of  evils  here,  and  shed  the 
light  of  immortality  on  the  gloom  of  the  grave.  This  religion, 
[  believe,  sir,  you  have  yet  to  study." 

The  officer  put  his  hands  upon  his  face ;  then,  languidly 
clasping  them,  allowed  them  to  fall  down,  forced  a  smile,  and 
said,  with  a  sigh,  "  We  must  all  follow  what  we  think  best." 
His  behaviour  afterwards  was  perfectly  decorous,  but  nothing 
further  is  known  of  him. 


To  a  young  infidel,  who  was  scoffing  at  Christianity,  on 
account  of  the  misconduct  of  some  of  its  professors.  Dr.  Mason 
once  said,  "  Did  you  ever  know  an  uproar  to  be  made  because 
an  infidel  went  astray  from  the  paths  of  morality  ?"  The  in- 
fidel admitted  that  he  had  not.  "  Then,  don't  you  see,"  asked 
Dr.  M.,  "  that  by  expecting  the  professors  of  Christianity  to 


406  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

be  holy,  you  admit  it  to  be  a  holy  religion,  and  thus  pay  it  the 
highest  compliment  in  your  power?"  The  young  man  was 
silent. 


The  Doctor  was  once  requested  to  visit  a  lady  in  dying  circum- 
stances, who,  together  with  her  husband,  openly  avowed  infidel 
principles,  though  they  attended  on  his  ministry.  On  ap- 
proaching her  bedside,  he  asked  her  if  she  felt  herself  a  sinner, 
and  perceived  the  need  of  a  Saviour.  She  frankly  told  him, 
she  did  not;  and  that  she  wholly  disbelieved  the  doctrine  of  a 
Mediator.  "Then,"  said  the  doctor,  "I  have  no  consolation 
for  you ;  not  one  word  of  comfort.  There  is  not  a  single  pas- 
sage in  the  Bible  that  warrants  me  to  speak  peace  to  any  one 
who  rejects  the  Mediator  provided  for  lost  sinners.  You  must 
abide  the  consequences  of  your  infidelity/'  Saying  that,  he 
was  on  the  point  of  leaving  the  room,  when  some  one  said, 
"  Well,  but.  Doctor,  if  you  cannot  speak  consolation  to  her,  you 
can  pray  for  her."  To  this  he  assented,  and  kneeling  down 
by  the  bedside,  prayed  for  her  as  a  guilty  sinner,  just  sinking 
into  hell;  and  then,  arising  from  his  knees,  he  left  the  house. 
A  day  or  two  after,  he  received  a  letter  from  the  lady  herself, 
earnestly  desiring  that  he  would  come  and  see  her  without 
delay.  He  immediately  obeyed  the  summons;  but  what  was 
his  amazement,  when,  on  entering  the  room,  she  held  out  her 
hand  to  him,  and  said,  with  a  benignant  smile,  "It  is  all  true; 
all  that  you  said  on  Sunday  is  true.  I  have  seen  myself  the 
wretched  sinner  which  you  described  me  to  be  in  prayer.  I 
have  seen  Christ  that  all-sufficient  Saviour  you  said  he  was; 
and  God  has  mercifully  snatched  me  from  the  abyss  of  infi- 
delity in  which  I  was  sunk,  and  placed  me  on  the  Rock  of  ages. 
There  I  am  secure;  there  I  shall  remain.  I  know  in  whom  I 
have  believed!"  All  this  was  like  a  dream  to  him;  but  she 
proceeded,  and  displayed  as  accurate  a  knowledge  of  the  way 


REV.    DR.    J.    M.    MASON.  407 

of  salvation  revealed  in  the  gospol,  and  as  firm  a  reliance  on 
it,  as  if  she  had  been  a  disciple  of  Christ  for  many  years.  Yet 
there  was  nothing  like  boasting  or  presumption — all  was  hu- 
mility, resignation,  and  confidence.  She  charged  her  husbana 
to  educate  their  daughter  in  the  fear  of  God;  and,  above  all,  to 
keep  from  her  those  novels  and  books  of  infidel  sentimentality, 
by  which  she  had  nearly  been  brought  to  ruin.  On  the  even- 
ing of  the  same  day,  she  expired,  in  fulness  of  joy  and  peace 
in  believing. 

The  account  which  the  Doctor  received  from  her  attendants 
was,  that  his  prayer  at  his  first  visit  was  fastened  on  her 
mind, — that  soon  after  he  left  her,  she  became  alarmed  re- 
specting the  state  of  her  soul, — that  at  one  period,  though  her 
voice  had  previously  been  so  feeble  that  she  could  scarcely  be 
heard,  yet  her  cries  were  distinctly  audible  from  the  second 
floor  to  the  cellar  of  the  house,  and  that  at  length  she  found 
peace  in  believing  in  Christ  as  he  is  exhibited  in  the  gospel. 


Dr.  Mason  was  accustomed  to  visit  some  small  congrega- 
tions in  the  country,  and  was  returning  from  one  of  these  ex- 
cursions, when  he  stopped  at  a  house  for  some  refreshment. 
Some  bread  and  milk  were  handed  to  him,  which  he  ate  with 
an  iron  spoon.  On  his  return,  he  smilingly  mentioned  the  cir- 
cumstance among  his  friends ;  and  his  remark  about  the  iron 
spoon  soon  reached  the  ears  of  his  kind  hostess.  She  replied, 
with  grief,  that  she  was  sorry  Dr.  Mason  had  made  himself 
merry  at  her  expense :  for  if  she  had  possessed  a  silver  spoon, 
he  should  certainly  have  used  it:  as  it  was,  she  furnished  him 
with  the  best  she  had.  This  being  related  to  him,  he  mounted 
his  horse,  and  rode  more  than  fifty  miles,  to  apologize  for  his 
thoughtless  speech,  and  to  ask  the  old  lady's  pardon. 


408  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


REV.  MR.  WORCESTER. 


The  Rev.  Mr.  Worcester,  of  Salem,  at  a  Convention,  saiu, 
that  as  he  was  once  putting  on  his  over-coat  to  go  out  on  a 
visit  to  his  parishioners,  he  heard  a  loud  and  unusual  knock  at 
the  door.  He  opened  it,  and  there  stood  a  miserable-looking 
man  in  a  state  of  intoxication.  He  was  kindly  invited  to  come 
in,  and  he  did  so.  "You  don't  know  me,"  said  the  stranger, 
"but  I  know  you.  .My  mother  is  a  member  of  your  church, 
and  I  used  to  go  to  your  father's  meeting."  A  long  conversa- 
tion ensued,  in  which  the  minister  caught  the  substance  of  his 
story.  He  had  known  him  when  they  were  boys,  but  not 
since.  The  unfortunate  being  had  become  an  infidel,  and  a 
degraded  drunkard,  and  actually  debated  on  his  way,  whether 
to  eat  opium  and  die,  or  go  and  see  the  minister,  and  let  him 
know  his  case.  Finally  he  determined  on  the  latter  course. 
He  had  then  been  drinking,  but  after  serious,  solemn  conversa- 
tion, he  determined  to  drink  no  more.  A  day  or  two  after,  Mr. 
Worcester  called  to  see  him,  and  found  him  in  the  depths  of  de- 
spair on  account  of  his  sins.  "  I  had  never  seen,"  said  Mr.  Wor- 
cester, "such  misery;  but  I  pointed  him  to  'the  Lamb  of  God, 
which  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world.'  At  length  he  found 
peace  and  forgiveness  at  the  cross  of  Christ,  and  finally,  with 
his  wife,  united  with  my  church;  and,  as  I  see  the  individual 
in  this  house,  I  will  only  say  he  has  since  sustained  an  honour- 
able and  consistent  profession." 

Mr.  Worcester  sat  down,  when  an  individual,  of  a  gentle- 
manly bearing,  rose  and  said,  "I  am  the  individual  to  whom 
the  pastor  has  referred ;  and  it  is  all  true."  He  spoke  for  some 
time,  with  much  force,  and  related  the  trials  he  had  gone 
through  by  imbibing  infidel  principles,  and  following  the  paths 
of  intenjperance ;  and  his  remarks  were  laid   up  in  many  a 


REV,    J.    ARMSTR0IS6,  409 

heart,  who  felt  then,  as  they  never  felt  before,  the  stupendous 
change  that  may  be  produced  by  total  abstinence,  and  the  influ- 
ence of  the  faithful  minister?  of  true  religion. 


REV.  J.  ARMSTRONG. 


Several  years  ago,  the  Rev.  James  Armstrong  preached  at 
Harmony,  near  the  Wabash ;  when  a  physician  of  that  place, 
a  professed  deist  or  infidel,  called  on  his  associates  to  accom- 
pany him  while  he  "  attacked  the  Methodists,"  as  he  said.  At 
lirst,  he  asked  Mr.  Armstrong  if  he  followed  preaching  to  save 
souls.  He  answered  in  the  affirmative.  He  then  inquired, 
"Did  you  ever  see  a  soul?"  "No."  "Did  you  ever  hear  a 
soul?"  "  No."  "  Did  you  ever  taste  a  soul  ?"  "  No."  "  Did 
you  ever  smell  a  soul?"  "  No."  "Did  you  ever  feel  a  soul  ?" 
"  Yes,  thank  God,"  said  Mr.  Armstrong.  "  Well,"  said  the 
Doctor,  "  there  are  four  of  the  five  senses  against  one,  that 
there  is  a  soul."  Mr.  Armstrong  then  asked  the  gentleman  if 
he  was  a  doctor  of  medicine,  and  he  was  also  answered  in  the 
affirmative.  He  then  asked  the  doctor,  "  Did  you  ever  see  a 
pain?"  "No."  "  Did  you  ever  hear  a  pain  ?"  "No."  Did 
you  ever  taste  a  pain?"  "No."  "Did  you  ever  smell  a  pain?" 
"No."  "Did  you  ever  feel  a  pain?"  "Yes."  Mr.  Armstrong 
then  said,  "There  are  also  four  senses  against  one,  to  prove 
that  there  is  no  such  thing  as  a  pain;  and  yet,  sir,  you  know 
that  there  is  a  pain,  and  I  know  there  is  a  soul."  The  doctor 
appeared  confounded,  and  walked  off. 


35 


410  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


A  CLERGYMAN  AT  NEW  ORLEANS. 

A  Presbyterian  minister,  American  by  birth,  but  of  Scot- 
tish parentage,  happening  to  be  in  New  Orleans  some  time  ago, 
was  asiied  to  visit  an  old  Scottish  soldier  who  had  wandered  to 
that  city,  sickened,  and  was  conveyed  to  the  hospital.  On  his 
entrance,  and  on  announcing  his  errand,  the  Scotchman  told 
him,  in  a  surly  tone,  that  he  desired  none  of  his  visits, — that 
he  knew  how  to  die  without  the  aid  of  a  priest.  In  vain  he 
informed  him  that  he  was  no  priest,  but  a  Presbyterian  minis- 
ter, come  to  read  to  him  a  portion  of  the  word  of  God,  and  to 
speak  to  him  of  eternity.  The  Scotchman  doggedly  refused  to 
hold  any  conversation  with  him,  and  he  was  obliged  to  take 
his  leave.  Next  day,  however,  he  called  again,  thinking  that 
the  reflection  of  the  man  on  his  own  rudeness  would  prepare 
the  way  for  a  better  reception.  But  his  tone  and  manner  were 
equally  rude  and  repulsive;  and  at  length  he  turned  himself  in 
bed,  with  his  face  to  the  wall,  as  if  determined  to  hear  nothing 
and  relent  nothing.  The  minister  bethought  himself,  as  a  last 
resource,  of  the  hymn  well  known  in  Scotland,  the  composition 
of  David  Dickson,  minister  of  Irvine,  beginning,  "  0  mother 
deai\  Jerusalem^  tvhen  shall  I  come  to  thee^''  which  his  Scot- 
tish mother  had  taught  him  to  sing  to  the  tune  of  "Dundee." 
He  began  to  sing  his  mother's  hymn.  The  soldier  listened  for 
a  few  moments  in  silence,  but  gradually  turned  himself  round, 
with  a  relaxed  countenance,  and  the  tear  in  his  eye,  to  inquire, 
"Wha  learned  you  that?"  "My  mother,"  replied  the  minister; 
"And  so  did  mine,"  rejoined  the  now  softened  soldier,  whose 
heart  was  opened  by  the  recollections  of  infancy  and  of  country, 
and  now  gave  a  willing  ear  to  the  man  that  had  found  the  Scot- 
tish key  to  his  heart. 


REV.    MR.    CASE.  411 


REV.  MR.  CASE. 


This  valued  minister  relates  a  very  interesting  and  striking 
conversion,  which  may  show  us  the  possibility  of  a  work  of 
Divine  mercy  in  the  heart  of  a  sinner,  after  he  has  ceased  to 
hold  communication  with  the  outward  world,  though  assuredly 
it  can  furnish  no  rational  ground  for  indolence  and  presump- 
tion : — 

A  Mrs.  D.,  whom  he  baptized  in  Charleston,  Maine,  in  1811, 
when  but  a  young  lady,  was  one  of  a  party  who  rode  out  on  a 
sleigh,  drawn  by  two  horses,  on  the  river  from  Hampden  to 
Bangor ;  the  ice  gave  way,  and  she,  with  her  companions,  was 
plunged  beneath  the  watery  element.  Happily,  however,  the 
lives  of  the  whole  party  were  saved.  During  this  immersion, 
her  soul,  by  the  instantaneous  and  powerful  work  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  was  converted  to  God.  The  rapid  progress  of  thought 
and  feeliqg  in  this  short  moment,  as  she  distinctly  recollected, 
was,  as  she  was  falling,  a  most  vivid  and  impressive  thought 
of  death  filled  her  mind.  This  was  instantly  succeeded  by  an 
overwhelming  consciousness  of  her  sins,  her  guilt,  and  her  just 
condemnation,  and  this  was  combined  with  a  view  of  the  cha- 
racter and  law  of  God,  shining  in  incomprehensible  brightness, 
reflecting  his  love  and  justice;  and  then,  in  a  moment,  every 
energy  of  her  soul  seemed  concentrated  in  one  unyielding  desire 
for  mercy.  At  this  instant,  those  who  escaped  from  the  water 
drew  her  upon  the  unbroken  ice,  when  her  soul  was  filled  with 
love  to  God  and  Christ,  and  her  tongue  unloosed  to  praise  his 
name.  She  said  that  she  hardly  thought  of  her  temporal  sal- 
vation, but  with  unutterable  astonishment  and  gratitude  she 
beheld  that  glorious  grace  which  gave  her  heavenly  delight. 
This  was  no  delusion.  Her  subsequent  life  of  piety  gave  evi- 
dence of  its  reality. 


412  THE    AMERICAN    OL£ROY. 


REV.  DR.  LATHROP. 

I  WAS  once  requested,  says  Dr.  Lathrop,  to  preach  against 
prevailing  fashions.  A  remote  inhabitant  of  the  parish,  appa- 
rently in  a  serious  frame,  called  upon  me  one  day,  and  pressed 
the  necessity  of  bearing  my  testimony  against  this  dangerous 
evil.  I  observed  to  him,  that  as  my  people  were  generally 
farmers,  in  middling  circumstances,  I  did  not  think  they  took 
a  lead  in  fashions.  If  they  followed  them,  it  was  at  an  humble 
distance,  and  rather  to  avoid  singularity  than  to  encourage 
extravagance ;  that  as  long  as  people  were  in  the  habit  of 
wearing  clothes,  they  must  have  some  fashion  or  other ;  and 
a  fashion  that  answered  the  ends  of  dress,  and  exceeded  not 
the  ability  of  the  wearer,  I  considered  as  innocent,  and  not 
deserving  reproof.  To  this  he  agreed  ;  but  said,  what  grieved 
him  was,  to  see  people  set  their  hearts  so  much  on  fashions. 
I  conceded  that  as  modes  of  dress  were  trifles  compared  with 
eternal  concerns,  to  set  our  hearts  upon  them  must  be  a  great 
sin.  But  I  advised  him  to  consider,  that  to  set  our  hearts 
against  such  trifles,  was  the  same  sin  as  to  set  our  hearts 
upon  them;  and  as  his  fashion  was  different  from  those  of  his 
neighbours,  jus*  in  proportion  as  he  set  his  heart  against 
theirs^  he  set  his  heart  upon  his  own.  He  was  therefore 
doubly  guilty  of  the  very  sin  he  imputed  to  others. 


REV.  T.  HOOKER. 


The  Rev.  Dr.  Dwight,  in  his  excellent  travels,  describes  this 
eminent  colonist  of  New  England,  as  one  of  their  wisest  and 
most  influential  men.  He  was  universally  respected  for  his 
excellent  qualities.     He  was  remarkable,  among  other  things, 


REV.    MR.    C.  413 

for  his  mildness.     A  story,  illustrating  this  trait  in  his  charac- 
ter, is  still  preserved. 

It  is  said  that  he  was  once  suddenly  awakened,  in  the  night 
time,  by  an  unusual  noise  in  the  cellar  of  his  house.  He  sus- 
pected that  some  person  had  crept  in  without  leave,  and  imme- 
diately arose,  dressed  himself,  and  went  silently  to  the  foot  of 
the  cellar  stairs.  There  he  saw  a  man,  with  a  candle  in  his 
hand,  taking  pork  out  of  a  barrel.  Mr.  Hooker  stood  still  and 
looked  on  till  he  had  taken  the  last  piece.  He  then  stepped 
towards  him,  and  accosted  him  in  perfectly  good  humour: — 
"  Neighbour,  you  act  unfairly  ;  you  ought  to  leave  a  proper 
share  for  me."  Thunderstruck  at  being  detected,  and  espe- 
cially by  a  man  of  Mr.  Hooker's  character,  the  culprit  fell  at 
his  feet,  condemned  himself  for  his  crime,  and  implored  his 
pardon.  Mr.  Hooker  cheerfully  forgave  him,  and  concealed 
his  crime,  but  seriously  admonished  him,  and  then  made  him 
carry  half  the  pork  to  his  own  house. 


REV.  MR.  C. 


During  the  progress  of  a  protracted  meeting,  held  in  Johns- 
town, Ohio,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  C,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  it  happened  that  most  of  the  persons  who  desired  the 
prayers  of  the  church,  were  females.  This  led  some  objectors 
to  say  that  weak-minded  persons  were  generally  the  first  to 
seek  religion.  This  came  to  the  knowledge  of  the  worthy 
clergyman;  and  the  next  evening,  he  took  occasion,  at  the 
meeting,  to  notice  the  objection. 

"  Well,  friends,"  said  he,  "  we  have  had  a  very  profitable 
meeting  to-night;  but  I  wish  to  notice  a  fact  which  I  have 
heard  to-day.  Some  persons  have  said  that  this  is  not  the 
work  of  the  Lord,  because  nearly  all  who  profess  to  seek  him 

35* 


41-4r  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

are  females.  They,  moreover,  challenge  us  to  tell  them  why 
there  is  so  large  a  proportion  of  the  weaker  sex  thus  engaged. 
Now,  sirs,  I  will  not  answer  you  directly  ;  but  see  here  :— Two 
years  ago,  I  had  occasion  to  preach  to  the  prisoners  in  the 
Ohio  Penitentiary.  Now,  how  did  it  happen  that  there  were 
more  than  four  hundred  males,  and  but  about  half  a  dozen 
of  the  weaker  sex  ?  When  you  answer  this,  I  will  be  prepared 
to  speak  to  your  question." 


A  PASTOR. 


Dr.  Goodrich  has  beautifully  said  that  it  was  the  reflection 
that  there  was  bread  enough  and  to  spare  in  his  father's  house, 
which  compelled  the  prodigal  to  exclaim,  "  I  will  arise,  and  go 
unto  my  father."  Some  years  ago,  two  young  ladies,  under 
deep  conviction  of  sin,  went,  after  an  evening  meeting,  to  the 
house  of  a  pastor  for  further  instruction.  As  he  conversed 
with  them  much  at  large,  and  was  urging  them,  by  motives 
drawn  from  the  love  of  Christ,  instantly  to  accept  the  offered 
salvation,  one  of  them  was  observed  to  rest  her  head  upon  her 
hand,  as  if  in  deep  abstraction,  till  her  face  at  last  sunk  upon 
the  table,  in  solemn  and  overpowering  emotion.  After  a  few 
moments  of  entire  silence,  she  looked  up  with  a  countenance 
of  serene  joy,  dropped  upon  one  knee  before  her  companion, 
and  said,  with  the  simplicity  of  a  child,  "  Julia,  do  love  Christ. 
He  is  so  beautiful !  Do  come  with  me,  and  love  him  !"  This 
led  Julia  to  the  reflection,  "  She  has  entered  in,  while  I  remain 
out.  One  shall  be  taken,  and  another  left."  This,  under  God, 
was  the  means  of  bringing  her  also  to  Christ,  before  she  laid 
her  head  that  night  upon  her  pillow. 


REV.    DR.    JOHN    H.    KICE.  41«5 


REV.  DR.  LIVINGSTON. 


The  late  Rev.  Dr.  Livingston,  of  this  country,  and  Louis 
Bonaparte,  ex-king  of  Holland,  happened  once  to  be  fellow- 
passengers,  with  many  others,  on  board  of  one  of  the  North 
River  steamboats.  As  the  doctor  was  walking  the  deck  in  the 
morning,  and  gazing  at  the  refulgence  of  the  rising  sun,  which 
appeared  to  him  unusually  attractive,  he  passed  near  the  dis- 
tinguished stranger,  and,  stopping  for  a  moment,  accosted  him 
thus  :  "  How  glorious,  sir,  is  that  object !"  pointing  gracefully 
with  his  hand  towards  the  sun.  The  ex-king  assenting,  Dr. 
Livingston  immediately  added,  "And  how  much  more  glorious, 
sir,  must  be  its  Maker,  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  !"  A  gentle- 
man who  overheard  this  short  incidental  conversation,  being 
acquainted  with  both  personages,  now  introduced  them  to  each 
other,  and  a  few  more  remarks  were  interchanged.  Shortly 
after,  the  doctor  again  turned  to  the  ex-king,  and  with  that  air 
of  polished  complaisance  for  which  he  was  so  remarkable, 
invited  him  first,  and  then  the  rest  of  the  company,  to  attend 
morning  prayer.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add,  that  the  in- 
vitation was  promptly  complied  with. 


REV.  DR.  JOHN  H.  RICE. 


A  LATE  eminent  judge,  of  Virginia,  once  remarked,  that  the 
most  cutting  reproof  he  had  ever  received  for  profaneness,  was 
without  words.  He  happened  to  be  crossing  a  ferry  with  the 
late  Dr.  John  H.  Rice.  On  account  of  shallows,  the  boat 
could  not  be  brought  to  land,  and  they  were  carried  to  the 
bhore  by  the  coloured  ferrymen.     One  of  these  was  so  care- 


416  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

less  as  to  suffer  the  judge's  clothes  to  become  wetted,  and  he 
expressed  his  anger  by  an  imprecation.  Dr.  Rice,  without 
saying  a  word,  turned  to  him  his  large,  speaking  eye,  with 
sorrowful  expression.  "  I  never  so  felt  a  reproof,"  said  the 
judge,  "in  my  life;  and  instantly  asked  his  pardon.  'Ask 
pardon  of  God,'  said  Dr.  Rice.  I  shall  never  forget  it."  At 
this  time,  the  judge  was  entirely  ignorant  who  his  reprover  was.  ^ 


A  fine  instance  of  the  disinterestedness  of  this  excellent 
clergyman,  has  been  recorded  by  hi^  biographer.  A  Mrs. 
Randolph,  a  lady  of  his  congregation,  and  who  died  in  his 
house,  some  time  before  her  death  made  her  will,  and  felt  ex- 
ceedingly desirous  to  leave  him  a  handsome  legacy,  as  a  token 
of  Christian  regard  for  him.  Apprehending,  however,  that 
such  an  act  might  possibly  expose  him  to  some  unworthy  im- 
putations of  mercenary  views,  and  prizing  his  honour  above 
every  other  consideration,  she  resolved  to  suppress  her  inclina- 
tion, and  leave  him  nothing.  Still,  she  could  not  feel  satisfied 
to  do  so,  without  having  the  reason  of  her  conclusion  commu- 
nicated to  him.  This  was  accordingly  done ;  and  she  was 
much  gratified  to  find  that  her  conduct  was  entirely  approved 
by  him.  After  all,  however,  when  her  will  came  to  be  opened, 
it  was  found  that  she  had  so  far  altered  her  mind  as  to  have 
left;  him  one  thousand  dollars.  But  on  hearing  of  the  fact.  Dr. 
Rice  at  once  resolved  not  to  touch  a  cent  of  it.  He  instantly 
gave  it  all  to  public  Christian  charities,  which  he  knew  she 
had  favoured  while  living. 


REV.    DR.    PATSON  417 


REV.  DR.  PAYSON. 

Dr.  Payson  was  very  eminently  devoted  to  his  work  as  a 
minister  of  Christ,  and  never  at  a  loss,  in  the  pulpit  or  out  of 
it,  for  plans  to  accomplish  the  great  object  to  which  he  had  de- 
voted his  life.  The  following  rencontre  with  a  lawyer  of  Port- 
land, who  ranked  among  the  first  in  the  place  for  wealth  and 
fluency  of  speech,  will  show  the  doctor's  insight  into  character, 
and  also  that  his  conquests  were  not  confined  to  "  weak  wo- 
men and  children." 

A  lady,  who  was  the  common  friend  of  Mrs.  Payson  and  the 
lawyer's  wife,  was  sojourning  in  the  family  of  the  latter.  After 
the  females  of  the  respective  families  had  interchanged  several 

"  calls,"   Mrs. was  desirous  of  receivinsr  a   foraml  visit 

from  Mrs.  Payson ;  but  to  effect  this,  Doctor  P.  must  also  be 
invited ;  and  how  to  prevail  on  her  husband  to  tender  an  invi- 
tation was  the  great  difficulty.  He  had  been  accustomed  to 
associate  experimental  religion  with  meanness,  and  of  course 
felt  or  affected  great  contempt  for  the  divine,  as  if  it  were  im- 
possible for  a  man  of  his  religion  to  be  also  a  man  of  talents. 
He  knew,  by  Report,  something  of  Dr.  Payson's  practice  on 
these  occasions,  and  dreading  to  have  his  house  a  place  for 
what  appeared  to  him  gloomy  conversation,  resisted  his  wife's 
proposal  as  long  as  he  could  do  so  and  retain  the  character  of 
a  gentleman.  When  he  gave  his  consent,  it  was  with  the  po- 
sitive determination  that  Dr.  Payson  should  not  converse  on 
religion,  nor  ask  a  blessing  over  his  food,  nor  offer  a  prayer  in 
his  house.  He  collected  his  forces,  and  made  his  preparations 
in  conformity  with  this  purpose.  When  the  appointed  day 
arrived,  he  received  his  guests  very  pleasently,  and  entered  at 
once  into  animated  conversation  ;  determined,  by  obtruding  his 
own  favourite  topics,  to  forestal  the  divine.  It  was  not  long  be- 
fore the  latter  discovered  his  object,  and  summoned  together 


418  THE    A31ERICAN    CLERGY. 

his  powers  to  defeat  it.  He  plied  them  with  that  skill  and  ad- 
dress for  which  he  was  remarkable ;  still,  for  some  time,  vic- 
tory was  inclined  to  neither  side  or  to  both  alternately.  The 
lawyer,  not  long  before,  had  returned  from  Washington  city, 
where  he  spent  several  weeks  on  business  at  the  supreme  court 
of  the  United  States.  Dr.  Payson  made  some  inquiries  re- 
specting sundry  personages  there,  and  among  others,  the  chap- 
lain of  the  house  of  representatives.  The  counsellor  had  heard 
him  in  the  devotional  services  of  that  assembly.  "  How  did 
you  like  him  ?"  "  Not  at  all ;  he  appeared  to  have  more  re- 
gard to  those  around  him  than  he  had  to  his  Maker."  Dr. 
Payson  was  very  happy  to  hear  him  recognise  the  distinction 
between  praying  to  God,  and  praying  to  be  heard  of  men  ;  and 
dropped  a  series  of  observations  on  prayer,  passing  into  a 
strain  of  remark,  which,  without  taking  the  form,  had  all  the 
effect  on  the  lawyer's  conscience,  of  a  personal  application. 
From  a  topic  so  unwelcome,  he  strove  to  divert  the  conversa- 
tion ;  and  every  few  minutes  would  start  something  as  wide 
from  it  as  the  east  is  from  the  west.  But  as  often  as  he 
wandered,  his  guest  would  dexterously,  and  without  violence, 
bring  him  back ;  and  as  often  as  he  was  brought  back,  he 
would  wander  again.  At  length  the  trying  moment,  which  was 
to  turn  the  scale,  arrived.  The  time  for  the  evening  repast 
had  come ;  the  servant  had  entered  the  parlour  with  the  pro- 
visions ;  the  master  of  the  feast  became  unusually  eloquent, 
resolved  to  engross  the  conversation,  to  hear  no  question  or 
reply,  to  allow  no  interval  for  "  grace,"  and  to  give  no  indica- 
tion, by  the  eye,  the  hand,  or  the  lips,  that  he  expected  or 
wished  for  such  a  service.  Just  as  the  distribution  was  on  the 
point  of  commencing,  Dr.  P.  interposed  the  question,  "What 
writer  has  said,  '  The  devil  invented  the  fashion  of  carrying 
round  tea,  to  prevent  a  blessing  being  asked?'"  Our  host  felt 
himself  "  cornered ;"  but,  making  a  virtue  of  necessity,  re- 
plied, "  I  don't  know  what  writer  it  is ;  but  if  you  please,  we 


REV.    DR.    TAYSON.  419 

will  foil  the  devil  this  time.  Will  you  ask  a  blessing,  sir?"  A 
blessing,  of  course,  was  asked ;  and  he  brooked,  as  well  as  he 
could,  this  first  certain  defeat,  still  resolved  not  to  sustain^  ano- 
ther by  the  ofTering  of  thanks  on  closing  the  repast.  But  in 
this,  too,  he  was  disappointed.  By  some  well-timed  sentiment 
of  his  reverend  guest,  he  was  brought  into  such  a  dilemma, 
that  he  could  not,  without  absolute  rudeness,  decline  asking 
him  to  return  thanks.  And  thus  he  contended  every  inch  of 
his  ground,  till  the  visit  terminated.  But,  at  every  stage,  the 
minister  proved  too  much  for  the  lawyer.  He  sustained  his 
character  as  a  minister  of  religion,  and  gained  his  point  in 
every  thing ;  and  that,  too,  with  so  admirable  a  tact,  in  a  way 
so  natural  and  unrestrained,  and  with  such  respectful  deference 
to  his  host,  that  the  latter  could  not  be  displeased,  except  with 
himself.  Dr.  Payson  not  only  acknowledged  God  on  the  recep- 
tion of  food,  but  before  separating  from  the  family,  read  the 
Scriptures  and  prayed ;  and  that,  too,  at  the  request  of  the 
master,  though  this  request  was  made,  as  in  every  other  in- 
stance, in  violation  of  a  determined  purpose.  The  chagrin  of 
this  disappointment,  however,  eventually  became  the  occasion 
of  his  greatest  joy.  His  mind  was  never  afterwards  entirely 
at  ease,  till  he  found  peace  in  believing.  Often  did  he  revert, 
with  devout  thankfulness  to  God,  to  the  visit  which  had  occa- 
sioned his  mortification ;  and  ever  after  regarded,  with  more 
than  common  veneration  and  respect,  the  servant  of  God  whom 
he  had  despised  ;  and  was  glad  to  receive  his  ministrations,  in 
exchange  for  those  on  which  he  had  formerly  attended. 


Once,  in  the  progress  of  a  revival  of  religion  among  his 
people  in  Portland,  Dr.  Payson,  after  having  repeatedly  invited 
meetings  at  his  house,  one  day  gave  an  invitation  to  all  those 
young  persons  who  did  not  intend  to  seek  religion.     Any  one 


420  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

who  did  not  know  the  Doctor,  would  be  surprised  to  hear  tha 
thirty  or  forty  came.     He  had  a  very  pleasant  social  interview 
with  them,  saying  nothing  about  religion,  until,  just  as  they 
were  about  to  leave,  he  closed  a  very  few  plain  and  simple 
remarks,  in  the  following  manner  : — 

"  Suppose  you  should  see  coming  down  from  heaven,  a  very 
fine  thread,  so  fine  as  to  be  almost  invisible,  and  it  should  come 
and  attach  itself  to  you.  You  knew,  we  will  suppose,  that  it  came 
from  God.  Should  you  dare  to  put  out  your  hand  and  brush 
it  away  ?" 

He  dwelt  a  few  minutes  on  this  idea,  until  every  one  had  a 
clear  and  fixed  conception  of  it,  and  of  the  hardihood  which 
any  one  would  manifest  who  should  openly  break  even  such  a 
tie.  "  Now,"  continued  he,  "just  such  a  slender  delicate  thread 
has  come  from  God  to  you  this  afternoon.  You  do  not  feel, 
you  say,  any  interest  in  religion;  but  by  coming  here  this 
afternoon,  God  has  fastened  one  little  thread  upon  you  all :  it 
is  very  weak  and  frail,  and  you  can,  in  a  moment,  brush  it 
away.  But  you  certainly  will  not  do  so.  Welcome  it,  and  it 
will  enlarge  and  strengthen  itself,  until  it  becomes  a  golden 
chain  to  bind  you  for  ever  to  God." 


A  few  years  before  his  death,  he  visited,  at  their  most  crowd- 
ed season,  the  Springs  of  Saratoga.  He  sojourned  at  the  prin- 
cipal hotel,  where  he  was  surrounded  by  the  very  elite  of  the 
United  States.  From  day  to  day  he  mingled  in  general  inter- 
course, and  took  his  full  share  in  conversations  on  philosophi- 
cal, literary,  and  general  topics,  to  the  delight  of  every  one. 
At  length  he  proposed  that,  on  a  coming  day,  which  he  named, 
the  hour  after  dinner  should  be  devoted  to  religious  conversa- 
tion. Some  of  his  most  intimate  friends  were  fearful  lest  tho 
mighty  talent  by  which  he  was  surrounded,  which,  alas,  was 


REV.    DR.    PAYSOiV.  421 

lamentably  stained  with  infidelity,  should  prove  more  than 
equal  to  his  pious  zeal,  or  that  he  might  be  left:  alone  to  regret 
that  he  had  made  the  proposal.  At  length  the  hour  arrived, 
and  after  the  cloth  was  removed,  he  found  himself  surrounded 
by  a  very  large  assembly.  He  sat  for  some  time  in  deep  and 
solemn  silence,  and  then  made  some  remarks,  simply  to  elicit 
observations  and  inquiries  in  return.  A  leading  statesman,  among 
others,  rose,  determined  to  try  the  Doctor's  strength  to  the  ut- 
utmost,  and  boldly,  and  with  great  energy,  attacked  Christianity 
in  some  of  its  strongest  holds.  Interest  was  excited  to  its  highest 
mtensity,  as  the  worthy  minister  rose  to  reply.  With  candour, 
clearness,  and  power  he  re-stated  the  strongest  arguments 
which  his  opponents  had  brought  forward,  and  with  simplicity 
and  eloquence  which  absolutely  electrified  his  audience,  he  de- 
molished every  objection  they  had  urged,  and  triumphantly 
won  the  unbounded  admiration  of  all  who  heard  him,  every 
one  of  whom  declared  they  had  never  before  listened  to  such 
strains  of  wisdom  of  benevolence,  and  of  piety. 


A  gentleman,  who  conversed  with  Dr.  Payson  in  Boston, 
when  he  visited  that  city  toward  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  was 
led  by  his  preaching  and  conversation  to  a  considerable  degree 
of  serious  concern  for  his  soul.  His  wife  was  still  in  a  great 
measure  indifferent  to  the  subject.  One  day,  meeting  her  in 
company,  he  said  to  her,  "  Madam,  I  think  your  husband  is 
looking  upwards ;  making  some  effort  to  rise  above  the  world, 
towards  God  and  heaven.  You  must  not  let  him  try  alone. 
Whenever  I  see  the  husband  struggling  alone  in  such  efforts, 
it  makes  me  think  of  a  drone  endeavouring  to  fly  upwards, 
while  it  has  one  broken  wing.  It  leaps,  and  flutters,  and  per- 
haps  raises  itself  up  a  little  way,  and  then  it  becomes  wearied, 

36 


422  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGV. 

and  drops  back  again  to  the  ground.     If  bolh  wings  co-ope- 
rate, then  it  mounts  easily." 


One  day  he  went  to  visit  a  mother,  who  was  disconsolate 
from  the  loss  of  a  child.  He  said  to  her: — "  Suppose,  now, 
some  one  was  making  a  beautiful  crown  for  you  to  wear ;  and 
you  knew  it  was  for  you,  and  that  you  were  to  receive  it  and 
wear  it  as  soon  as  it  should  be  done.  Now,  if  the  maker  of 
it  were  to  ceme,  and,  in  order  to  make  the  crown  more  beau- 
tiful and  splendid,  were  to  take  away  some  of  your  jewels,  to 
put  into  it, — should  you  be  sorrowful  and  unhappy,  because 
they  were  taken  away  for  a  little  while,  when  you  knew  they 
were  gone  to  make  up  your  crown  1" 

The  mother  said,  that  no  one  could  conceive  of  the  relief, 
the  soothing,  quieting  influence  which  this  comparison  had  on 
her  mind. 


Dr.  Payson  was  once  going  to  one  of  the  towns  in  Maine, 
for  the  purpose  of  attending  a  ministers'  meeting,  accompanied 
by  a  friend ;  when  they  had  occasion  to  call  at  a  house,  on  the 
journey,  where  Dr.  Payson  was  unknown.  The  family  had 
just  sat  down  to  tea;  and  the  lady  of  the  house,  in  the  spirit 
of  genuine  hospitality,  invited  the  strangers  to  partake  of  the 
social  repast.  Dr.  Payson  at  first  declined  ;  but,  being  stre- 
nuously urged,  he  consented.  As  he  took  his  seat,  lie  inquired 
if  a  blessing  had  been  asked ;  and,  being  answered  in  the 
negative,  requested  the  privilege,  which  was  readily  granted, 
of  invoking  the  benediction  of  Heaven.  This  was  done  witli 
so  much  fervour,  solemnity,  and  simplicity,  that  it  had  the 
happiest  effect.  The  old  lady  treated  the  company  with  the 
utmost  attention  ;  and,  as  Dr.  Payson  was  about  to  leave,  he 


REV.    DR.    PAYSON.  423 

said  to  her,  "  Madam,  you  have  treated  me  with  much  hospi- 
tality and  kindness,  for  which  I  thank  you  sincerely;  but, 
allow  me  to  ask,  how  do  you  treat  my  Master?  That  is  of 
intinitely  greater  consequence  than  how  you  treat  me."  He 
continued,  in  a  strain  of  appropriate  exhortation ;  and,  having 
done  his  duty  in  the  circumstances,  proceeded  on  his  journey. 
This  visit  was  sanctified  to  the  conversion  of  the  lady  and  her 
household.  The  revival  continued  in  the  neighbourhood  ;  and, 
in  a  short  time,  a  church  was  built,  and  the  regular  ordinances 
of  religion  established. 


On  another  occasion,  he  went  to  see  a  sick  person,  who  was 
very  much  troubled  because  she  could  not  keep  her  mind  all 
the  time  fixed  upon  Christ,  on  account  of  the  distracting  influ- 
ences of  her  sufferings,  and  the  various  objects  and  occur- 
rences of  the  sick-room,  which  constantly  called  off  her 
attention.  She  was  afraid  that  she  did  not  love  her  Saviour, 
as  she  found  it  so  difficult  to  fix  her  mind  upon  him.  Dr. 
Payson  said,  "  Suppose  you  were  to  see  a  sick  little  child, 
lying  in  its  mother's  lap,  with  its  faculties  impaired  by  its  suf- 
ferings, so  that  it  was  generally  in  a  troubled  sleep ;  but  now 
and  then,  it  just  opens  its  eyes  a  little,  and  gets  a  glimpse  of 
its  mother's  face,  so  as  to  be  recalled  to  the  recollection  that 
it  is  in  its  mother's  arms ;  and  suppose  that  always,  at  such  a 
time,  it  should  smile  faintly  with  evident  pleasure  to  find  where 
it  was ;  should  you  doubt  whether  that  child  loved  its  mother 
jr  not?"  The  poor  sufferer's  doubt  and  despondency  were 
ijone  in  a  moment. 


424  THE     UMKRICAN    CLERGY. 


A  MINISTER  IN  NEW  YORK. 

A  MINISTER,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  was,  a  few  years 
since,  called  in  to  visit  a  dying  young  lady,  about  twenty  years 
of  age,  who  was  heiress  to  a  large  estate,  whose  parents  were 
doatingly  fond  of  her,  and  whose  education  was  of  the  highest 
and  most  fashionable  character.  The  minister  talked  of  death, 
judgment,  and  eternity  ;  but  the  young  lady  had  never  before 
heard  such  language  addressed  to  her,  and  she  trembled.  In 
the  dying  hour,  she  called  for  some  of  her  fine  clothes ;  and, 
when  they  were  brought,  she  looked  at  her  mother,  and  said, 
"  These  have  ruined  me.  You  never  told  me  I  must  die.  You 
taught  me  that  my  errand  into  this  world  was  to  be  gay  and 
dressy,  and  to  enjoy  the  vanities  of  life.  What  could  you 
mean  ?  You  knew  I  must  die  and  go  to  judgment.  You  never 
told  me  to  read  the  Bible,  or  to  go  to  church,  unless  to  make  a 
display  of  some  new  finery.  Mother,  you  have  ruined  me." 
She  died  in  a  kw  moments  after. 


A  CLERGYMAN  AT  ST.  LOUIS. 

A  WORTHY  minister  from  England  brought  over  a  habit, 
common,  we  believe,  even  in  the  religious  families  of  that 
countiy,  of  playing  at  drafts,  sometimes  even  for  a  small 
stake.  He  was  once  brought  very  strongly  to  feel  its  impro- 
priety. Some  ladies,  who  were  members  of  his  church,  had 
acquired  somewhat  of  a  love  for  dancing,  which  their  pastor 
found  out  and  reproved.  A  cousin  of  one  of  these  ladies  de- 
termined to  have  somewhat  of  harmless  revenge  on  the  cler- 
gyman. By  some  management,  the  pastor  was  drawn  to  the 
chess-board,  and   a   few  segars  were   staked  on   the  game. 


REV.    DR.    HENRY.  425 

They  played ;  and,  in  the  end,  the  clergyman  lost,  but  insisted 
on  his  friend  playing  again.  His  eyes  were  fully  opened,  when 
the  gentleman  replied  "  that  his  principles  forbade  him  to  play 
at  games  of  hazard ;"  and  he  wisely  resolved  henceforth  to 
"  avoid  the  appearance  of  evil." 


REV.  DR.  HENRY. 


The  excellent  Dr.  T.  C.  Henry  records  the  following  inte« 
resting  dialogue ; — 

"  You  believe  yourself  guilty  of  the  unpardonable  sin?" 

"  I  am  sure  of  it." 

"  In  what  did  the  crime  consist  ?" 

"  I  opposed  the  work  of  God." 

"  So  did  Saul." 

"  I  denied  Jesus  Christ." 

"  So  did  a  disciple,  afterwards  honoured  by  his  Master." 

"  I  doubted  the  power  of  Jesus  Christ,  after  strong  evidence 
in  its  favour." 

«  So  did  Thomas." 

"  What !  are  you  attempting  to  prove  by  such  examples  that 
I  am  a  Christian  ?" 

"  Not  at  all.     I  am  only  inquiring  into  the  nature  of  your 
guilt ;  and,  thus  far,  I  can  see  no  reason  for  despair." 

"  I  have  hated  God,"  rejoined  the  self-condemned,   "  and 
openly  avowed  my  enmity  in  sight  of  his  divine  operations." 

"  Thus  far  your  case  is  lamentable,  indeed  ;  but  not  hopeless, 

still.     Our  hearts  are  naturally  at  enmity  with  God  ;  and  I  do 

not  see  why  the  open  avowal  of  this,  drawn  out  by  the  sight 

of  the  law  into  visible  form,  must  necessarily  and  always  con- 

,  stitute  the  guilt  of  which  you  accuse  yourself." 

"  I  feel  that  I  am  cut  off  from  salvation." 

36* 


426  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

"  It  is  very  difficult  to  reason  against  your  feelings ;  but 
they  are  no  proof  on  the  present  subject.  Let  me  inquire 
whether  you  desire  the  pardon  of  your  sins  ?" 

"Assuredly,  if  it  were  possible." 

"  Do  you  regret  the  conduct  of  which  you  accuse  yourself?" 

"  Certainly." 

"Do  you  sincerely  desire  repentance/" 

"  I  would  give  the  world,  if  it  were  mine,  to  be  able  to 
do  so." 

. "  Then  it  is  not  possible  that  you  have  been  guilty  to  an 
unpardonable  extent ;  for  these  are  characteristics  of  a  state 
of  mind  faithless,  but  far  from  being  desperate  ;  and  they  come 
within  the  design  of  the  gospel  invitations." 

There  was  something  simple  and  touching  in  this  mode  of 
ministering  to  a  mind  diseased  ;  and  it  produced  an  effect  which 
probably  no  other  process  could  have  accomplished.  Mr.  L. 
did  not  long  survive  this  interview.  But  his  living  and  dying 
hours  were  those  of  a  favoured  Christian. 


REV.  MR.  TREFIT. 


I  WAS  called  upon,  says  the  Rev.  Mr.  Trefit,  some  years 
ago,  to  visit  an  individual,  a  part  of  whose  facis  had  been  eaten 
away  by  a  most  loathsome  cancer.  Fixing  my  eyes  on  this 
man,  in  his  agony,  I  said,  "Supposing  that  Almighty  God 
were  to  give  you  your  choice:  which  would  you  prefer,  your 
cancer,  your  pain,  and  your  sufferings,  with  a  certainty  of 
death  before  you,  but  of  immortality  hereafter;  or  health, 
prosperity,  long  life  in  the  world,  and  the  risk  of  losing  your 
immortal  soul?"  "Ah,  sir!"  said  the  man,  "give  me  the 
cancer,  the  pain,  the  Bible,  the  hope  of  heaven ;  and  others 
may  take  the  world,  long  life,  and  prosperity !" 


A    TRAVELLING    CLERGYMAN.  427 


A  SHREWD  MINISTER. 

A  MINISTER  had  travelled  far  to  preach  to  a  congregation. 
After  the  sermon,  he  waited  very  patiently,  expecting  some  of 
the  brethren  to  invite  him  home  to  dinner.  In  this,  he  was 
disappointed.  One  and  another  departed,  until  the  house  was 
almost  empty.  Summoning  resolution,  however,  he  walked 
up  to  an  elderly-looking  gentleman,  and  gravely  said, 

"  Will  you  go  home  with  me  to  dinner,  to-day,  brother  ?" 
"  Where  do  you  live  ?"  "  About  twenty  miles  from  this,  sir." 
"  No,"  said  the  man,  colouring,  "  but  you  must  go  with  me." 
"  Thank  you  ;  I  will,  cheerfully." 

After  that  time,  the  minister  was  no  more  troubled  about  his 
dinner. 


A  TRAVELLING  CLERGYMAN. 


An  excellent  clergyman,  "  whose  praise  is  in  all  the 
churches,"  was  once  spending  the  night  at  a  large  inn.  "  It  is 
my  custom,"  said  he  to  the  mistress  of  the  inn,  "  wherever  I 
am,  to  have  family  worship.  I  am  now  going  to  have  it  with 
my  wife ;  and  I  shall  be  glad  if  you  and  as  many  of  your 
servants  as  can  come  in,  will  join  us."  "  I  shall  be  very 
happy,"  was  the  reply,  "  and  all  the  servants  shall  come  in." 
Accordingly,  she  gave  her  directions  to  this  effect ;  and  all  the 
servants,  waiters,  chambermaids,  hostlers,  and  postilions  at- 
tended. The  worthy  clergyman,  before  he  prayed,  expounded 
a  portion  of  Scripture ;  and,  at  the  close  of  his  exposition, 
with  much  affectionate  earnestness  and  solemnity,  exhorted  his 
hearers  to  pray  for  the  Holy  Spirit.  About  a  year  afler,  he 
was  travelline  the  same  road.     As  he  drew  near  the  inn,  he 


428  THE  AMERICAN  CLERGY. 

was  accosted  by  a  post-boy.  "  Sir,  do  you  remember  me  V 
"  No,  my  friend,  I  cannot  say  that  I  do."  "Well,  sir,  I  recol- 
lect you.  You  were  here  some  time  ago,  and  had  us  all  into 
your  room,  in  the  house,  and  explained  a  chapter  in  the  Bible, 
and  prayed  for  us.  And  when  you  were  explaining  the  chap- 
ter, you  told  us,  if  we  had  not  been  accustomed  to  pray,  to 
begin  at  once,  and  pray,  '  Lord,  give  me  thy  Holy  Spirit. 
Lord,  convert  my  soul.'  I  thought  much  of  those  words,  and 
was  determined  to  follow  your  advice.  But  then  I  was  at  a 
loss  for  a  place  in  which  I  could  be  alone,  to  pray  for  the 
Lord  to  give  me  his  Spirit.  At  last  I  thought  of  the  stable ; 
and  I  used  to  take  the  key  and  lock  myself  in,  and  kneel 
down  and  pray  that  the  Lord  would  convert  my  soul.  And  I 
bless  God,  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  he  has  heard  and  an- 
swered my  prayers ;  that  he  has  given  me  his  Spirit,  and  con- 
verted my  soul."  This  should  encourage  ministers  to  "  sow 
beside  all  waters,"  and  also  shows  the  truth  of  the  old  saying, 
that  "  where  there  is  a  will,  there  is  a  way." 


SUCCESS  AND  ENCOURAGEMENT  OF  THE 
CLERGY. 


(429) 


REV.    MR.    S.  431 


REV.  PRESIDENT  EDWARDS. 

When  President  Edwards  had  preached  one  of  his  first  ser* 
mons,  after  the  remarkable  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit  on 
his  labours,  he  observed  two  families,  when  the  congregation 
had  withdrawn,  remaining,  as  if  by  joint  consent.  Upon  ap- 
proaching them,  he  found  they  had,  till  that  day,  been  in  a 
state  of  variance ;  but,  owing  to  the  influence  they  were  now 
under,  they  could  not  depart  from  the  house  of  God  till  they 
were  reconciled. 


REV.  MR.  S. 


Mr.  S.,  a  faithful  and  devoted  minister  in  Georgia,  some 
time  since  was  in  company  with  Mr.  H.,  who  was  passing  to 
one  of  his  regular  appointments  for  preaching.  The  residence 
of  Mr.  W.,  an  unconverted  and  careless  sinner,  lay  in  the  way ; 
and,  at  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  S.,  it  was  agreed  that  they  should 
stop,  and  try  to  pray  with  the  ungodly  old  man.  A  few  months 
after,  the  church  to  which  they  were  going,  was  visited  by  a 
season  of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord  ;  and  Mr. 
W.  was  among  the  first  who  united  with  it.  He  stated  that,  on 
a  certain  day  in  the  Spring,  he  was  in  his  field,  and  that  his 
mind  was  suddenly  arrested  by  serious  thoughts.  He  retired 
to  the  woods  to  pray  ;  after  which  he  went  home,  in  a  dreadful 
state  of  mind,  to  his  dinner.  His  pious  wife  accosted  him  with, 
"Mr.  S.  has  been  here  this  morning."  "Ah,  indeed!  and 
what  does  he  say?"  "Why,"  said  the  wife,  "  he  prayed  most 
devoutly  for  you."  "At  what  hour,"  asked  Mr.  W.,  "was  he 
here  ?"     She  told  him ;  and  it  was  found  that,  in  that  same 


432  THE  AMERICAN  CLERGY. 

hour,  the  Holy  Spirit  began  to  work  upon  his  heart.  He  was 
joyfully  received  into  the  church,  and  walked  worthy  of  the 
vocation  with  which  he  was  called. 


REV.  DR.  RODGERS. 


When  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Rodgers,  afterwards  of  New  York, 
resided  in  New  Castle  county,  on  the  Delaware,  he  offended  a 
part  of  his  congregation,  by  voting,  at  a  disputed  election,  for 
a  sheriff;  in  consequence  of  which,  he  never  voted  at  a  gene- 
ral election  afterwards.  In  this  act  of  self-denial,  he  showed 
a  practical  knowledge  of  the  scale  of  duties ;  for  how  feeble  is 
the  obligation,  in  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  to  promote  the  sup- 
posed prosperity  of  his  country  by  a  solitary  vote,  compared 
with  his  obligation  to  preserve  a  commanding  and  undivided 
influence  over  his  whole  congregation,  in  order  more  efTectually 
to  direct  their  attention  to  subjects  of  an  imperishable  nature. 


A  UNIVERSALIST  MINISTER. 


The  following  fact  is  one  among  many,  which  show  how 
even  erroneous  ministers  may  extend  the  truth,  when  they  do 
not  mean  it : — 

There  lived  in  England,  many  years  since,  a  man  who  pro- 
fessed to  believe  in  the  final  salvation  of  all  men.  To  sus- 
tain this  doctrine,  whenever  he  came  to  a  passage  which 
seemed  favourable  to  his  creed,  he  turned  down  a  leaf.  In 
this  way,  he  converted  his  Bible  into  a  kind  of  Universalist 
Text-Book,  for  the  indoctrination  of   his   family.     He   had  a 


REV.    JUli.N     BAIitV.  41^0 

son,  who  imbibed  the  sentiments  of  his  sire.  At  the  death  ol" 
the  father,  the  son  inherited  the  Bible  referred  to ;  and,  in 
accordance  with  paternal  example,  he  used  to  read  where  the 
leaves  were  turned  down,  and  comfort  himself  in  the  belief  that 
the  way  of  sin  is  not  death. 

After  a  few  years,  the  young  man  removed  to  the  western 
part  of  this  country.  He  went  to  hear  a  Universalist  minister 
preach.  The  sermon  being  rather  a  lame  performance,  the 
man,  so  far  from  being  confirmed  by  it,  was  rather  shaken  in 
his  confidence.  He  thought,  however,  that  he  could  make  a 
stronger  argument  himself.  He  went  home,  and  sat  down  to 
the  task.  But  the  Bible,  with  the  leaves  turned  down,  was 
away  in  England ;  and  he  had  forgotten  where  to  look  for  the 
detached  portions  upon  which  he  had  rested  his  faith,  and  thus 
was  forced  to  read  his  Bible  in  its  legitimate  connections  and 
dependencies.  So  he  read  on,  chapter  after  chapter,  looking 
all  the  while  for  his  favourite  doctrine.  But  he  did  not  find  it. 
Nay,  he  was  soon  convinced,  that  in  order  to  salvation,  he 
must  be  born  again.  He  sought,  and  soon  found  peace  in  be- 
lieving. For  a  few  years,  he  lived  the  life  of  a  consistent 
Christian ;  and,  when  tfelled  to  die,  he  left  the  world  in  the 
full  enjoyment  of  those  consolations  which  it  is  the  province  of 
evangelical  faith  alone  to  give. 


REV.  JOHN  BAILEY. 


The  usefulness  of  this  eminent  minister,  who  died  in  New 
England  in  1697,  did  indeed  begin  in  early  life.  His  father, 
then  in  England,  was  a  very  licentious  man.  John  was  a  little 
boy,  but  very  pious,  and  used  to  pray  with  his  mother  and  the 
whole  family.     This  coming  to  the  knowledge  of  his  father, 

37 


431  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGiT. 


his  mind  became  deeply  impressed.  The  fact  led  him  to  the 
cross  of  Christ  for  pardon ;  and  he  would  afterwards  some- 
limes  retire,  with  his  beloved  child,  to  confess  his  past  sins, 
and  to  present  thanksgivings  for  the  gmce  he  enjoyed. 


AN  AGED  MINISTER. 


An  aged  clergyman,  who  died  a  few  years  ago,  not  unfre- 
quently  heard  of  the  usefulness  of  some  of  his  sermons  twenty 
or  thirty  years  after  they  had  been  delivered.  He  once  rode 
thirty  miles,  on  a  stormy  Saturday,  and  had  but  very  kw 
hearers  on  the  following  day.  He  frequently  thought  after- 
wards, how  foolish  he  had  been  to  take  such  a  journey  to 
preach  to  a  few  persons,  when  he  might  have  staid  at  home 
and  addressed  many  more.  Nearly  twenty  years  afterwards, 
he  fell  into  the  company  of  a  very  pious  gentleman,  who,  after 
a  long  conversation,  asked  him  if  he  remembered   to  have 

preached  at ,  at  such  a  time  ?    The  aged  pastor  replied, 

*'  Yes ;  and  I  have  oilen  thought  how  foolish  1  was  to  leave 
my  own  congregation,  and  ride  thirty  miles,  in  a  storm,  to 
preach  to  a  dozen  people."  The  gentleman  rejoined,  "  But 
your  sermons  that  day  were  the  means  of  my  conversion." 
Never  afterwards  did  the  good  clergyman  think  any  journey 
too  long,  or  any  audience  too  small,  to  accomplish  his  object. 


SEVERAL    PASTORS.  436 


SEVERAL  PASTORS. 

When  a  certain  pastor,  whose  ministry  had  been  very 
highly  blessed  in  the  conversion  of  sinners,  was  asked  the 
secret  of  his  great  usefulness,  he  replied,  "We  have  a  prayin<T 
church."     This  is  an  eminently  powerful  auxiliary  to  success. 


A  fact  is  recorded  of  another  minister,  who  enjoyed  revivals 
in  his  church  for  fourteen  successive  winters.  Many  did  not 
know  how  to  account  for  this,  till  one  of  his  members  once 
rose  at  a  prayer-meeting  and  made  a  confession.  "  Brethren," 
said  he,  "  I  have  been  long  in  the  habit  of  praying,  every 
Saturday  night,  till  after  midnight,  for  the  descent  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  among  us.  And  now,  brethren,"  and  he  began  to  weep, 
"  I  confess  that  I  have  neglected  it  for  two  or  three  weeks." 
The  secret  was  out ;  that  minister  had  a  praying  church. 


A  worthy  minister  m  ill  health  became  greatly  depressed  in 
his  mind,  and  began  to  think  that  he  could  preach  no  more.  A 
member  of  his  church  became  deeply  interested  in  his  situa- 
tion, and  was  led  to  pray,  with  great  fervour,  for  the  descent 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  on  his  ministry.  One  Sabbath  morning, 
this  member's  mind  was  greatly  exercised ;  and  he  began  to 
pray  as  soon  as  it  was  light,  and  prayed  again  and  again  for  a 
blessing  tliat  day.  In  some  way,  the  minister  was  directed 
wilhin  hearing  of  his  prayer,  the  light  broke  in  upon  his  mind, 
lie  went  into  the  pulpit  and  preached  with  unwonted  power,  and 
a  revival  of  religion  commenced  in  his  church  that  very  day. 


436  THE  AMERICAN  CLERGY. 

A  minister  was  preaching  in  one  of  our  large  cities,  and 
after  retiring  into  the  vestry,  a  respectable  woman  came  in,  and 
offering  her  hand  to  the  man  of  God,  said,  "  Sir,  I  am  thank- 
ful to  see  your  face  once  more ;  this  is  indeed  a  joyful  day  to 
me." 

"  I  have  not  the  pleasure  of  knowing  you,  ma'am,"  answered 
the  minister,  shaking  hands  with  the  stranger. 

"  Oh  no,  sir,  you  do  not  know  me,  but  I  have  reason  to  re- 
member you ;  and  four  words  I  once  heard  you  read,  I  shall 
remember  for  ever." 

"  Indeed,  what  were  they  ?" 

"  Fifteen  years  ago,  sir,  you  were  preaching  in  this  city,  and 
I  was  then  in  a  dreadful  state  of  mind,  living  far  from  God 
and  happiness,  and  at  length  became  so  miserable,  I  resolved 
to  jump  into  the  river  just  below,  and  there  end,  as  I  foolishly 
imagined,  my  life  and  my  sorrow  together.  I  passed  this 
place  of  worship  in  my  way,  just  as  you,  sir,  gave  out  your 
text,  which  was  in  the  sixteenth  chapter  of  the  Acts,  and  a 
part  of  the  twenty -eighth  verse,  "Do  Ihyself  no  harm."  My 
attention  was  arrested,  and  I  hope  my  heart  changed  by  the 
Spirit  of  God  that  evening ;  and  I  have  now  for  many  years 
been  happy,  sitting  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  and  I  hope  trying  to 
learn  of  him.     He  is  to  me  all  and  in  all." 

The  minister  was  deeply  affected,  and  kneeling  down,  gave 
thanks  to  God  for  restoring  this  wandering  sheep  to  the  fold 
of  Jesus.  And  now  they  live  together  in  the  land  afar  ofl*, 
where  they  behold  the  King  in  his  glory,  and  rejoice  evermore, 
singino;  the  new  scng  of  Moses  and  the  Lamb.  ' 

so  o 


THE    PURITAN    3HJ    IST£RS.  487 


AMERICAN  MISSIC'NARIES. 

Five  young  men  embarked  from  this  country,  seven  years 
ago,  on  their  own  responsibility,  as  missionaries  to  the  coloured 
population  of  Jamaica.  The  second  day  after  their  arrival, 
they  heard  in  the  streets  of  Kingston  a  n  inquiry  for  missionaries. 
They  found  that  a  deputation  of  foui;  coloured  men  had  come 
from  the  interior  to  seek  an  instructor  who  would  go  and  re- 
side among  them.  When  first  emancipated,  they  had  agreed 
among  themselves  that  they  must  have  a  missionary,  and  had, 
for  his  accommodation,  erected  a  cha  pel  where  they  habitually 
assembled  to  pray  that  Heaven  would  send  them  a  teacher. 
Becoming  weary  of  waiting  for  an  answer,  they  said,  "  How 
do  we  know  but  our  prayers  have  been  answered  ?  Let  us  go 
to  Kingston  and  see." 

One  of  the  five  young  men  who  had  just  arrived  from  Ame- 
rica, returned  with  these  simple-hearted  Africans,  and  found  a 
field  waiting  for  the  reaper. 

These  missionaries,  says  the  Recorder,  have  established  five 
churches,  which  contain  more  than  three  hundred  members, 
and  have  seven  schools,  numbering  five  hundred  pupils,  besides 
a  high  school  to  prepare  teachers  for  other  schools.  They 
hope  ultimately  to  prepare  teachers  and  preachers  for  Africa 
also.  No  sooner  do  the  coloured  people  become  interested  in 
religion  themselves,  than  they  begin  to  think  and  pray  for 
their  "  father-land." 


THE  PURITAN  MINISTERS. 


It  is  a  delightful  testimony  which  Prince  bears  in  his  "  Chris- 
tian History,"  in  reference  to  the  usefulness  of  the  first  minis* 

37* 


438  THE    Aai  ERICAN    CLERGY. 

ters  from  the  old  country  in  New  England.  Such  was  the 
piety  of  their  people,  that  'One  of  their  ministers,  in  preaching 
before  a  very  large  assemb  ly,  affirmed  that  he  had  lived  among 
his  people  seven  years,  and  during  the  whole  time  had  not 
heard  a  profane  oath,  nor  seen  a  drunken  man. 


REV.  DR.  L.  BEECHER. 


The  doctor  once  engaged  to  preach,  by  way  of  exchange, 
for  a  country  minister,  and  the  Sabbath  proved  to  be  exces- 
sively cold,  stormy,  and  uncomfortable.  It  was  mid-winter, 
and  the  snow  was  piled  in  heaps  all  along  the  roads,  so  as  to 
make  the  passage  very  difficult.  Still  the  doctor  urged  his 
horse  through  the  drifts,  till  he  reached  the  church,  put  his 
horse  into  a  shed,  and  went  in.  As  yet,  there  was  no  person 
in  the  house,  and  after  looking  about,  he  took  his  seat  in  the 
pulpit.  Soon  the  door  opened,  and  a  single  individual  walked 
up  the  aisle,  looked  about,  and  took  a  seat. 

The  hour  came  for  commencing  service,  but  there  were  no 
more  hearers.  Whether  to  preach  to  such  an  audience  or  not, 
was  only  a  momentary  question  with  Lyman  Beecher.  He 
felt  that  he  had  a  duty  to  perform,  and  that  he  had  no  right  to 
refuse  to  do  it,  because  one  man  only  could  reap  benefit ;  and 
accordingly  he  went  through  all  the  services,  praying,  singing, 
preaching,  and  the  benediction,  with  his  one  hearer.  And  when 
all  was  over,  he  hastened  down  from  the  desk  to  speak  to  his 
"  congregation,"  but  he  had  departed. 

So  rare  a  circumstance  was,  of  course,  occasionally  referred 
to,  but  twenty  years  after  a  v.,^y  delightful  discovery  came  to 
light  in  connection  with  this  service.  The  good  doctor  was 
travelling  somewhere  in  Ohio,  and  alighting  from  the  stage  in 
a  pleasant  village,  a  gentleman  stepped  up  to  him  and  fami 


REV.    DR.    HOPKINS.  439 

liarly  called  him  by  his  name.  "  I  do  not  remember  you," 
said  Dr.  B.  "  I  suppose  not,"  said  the  stranger,  but  we  spent 
two  hours  together  in  a  house,  alone,  once,  in  a  storm."  "  I 
do  not  recall  it,  sir,"  added  the  old  minister;  "  pray  where  was 
it  ?"  "  Do  you  remember  preaching  twenty  years  ago,  in 
such  a  place,  to  a  single  person?"  "Yes,  yes,"  said  the  doc- 
tor, grasping  his  hand,  "  I  do,  indeed  ;  and  if  you  are  the  man, 
I  have  been  wishing  to  see  you  ever  since."  '  I  am  the  man, 
sir ;  and  that  sermon  saved  my  soul,  made  a  minister  of  me, 
and  yonder  is  my  church !  The  converts  of  that  sermon,  sir, 
are  all  over  Ohio  !' 

So  striking  a  result  made  no  little  impression  on  the  doc- 
tor's mind.  He  learned  that  the  man  was  at  the  time  a  law- 
yer, who  was  in  the  town  on  business,  and  tired  of  a  Sunday 
morning  at  a  country  hotel,  went  in  despite  of  the  storm  to 
church,  and  heard  that  sermon.  The  doctor  added,  "  I  think 
that  was  about  as  satisfactory  an  audience  as  1  ever  had." 


REV.  DR.  HOPKINS. 


Seldom  has  the  pulpit  been  honoured  with  a  great  man  who 
composed  and  uttered  his  discourses  in  so  clumsy  and  awkward 
a  style  as  Dr.  Samuel  Hopkins.  It  was  the  burden  of  his 
daily  complaint  that  he  had  so  little  success  in  the  ministry, 
and  he  is  now  often  mentioned  as  a  pious  divine  who  added 
but  little  to  the  stock  of  public  virtue.  But  let  us  glance  at  the 
effects  produced  by  this  "  unsuccessful"  labourer.  Whatever 
may  have  been  the  extent  of  his  indebtedness  to  the  manu- 
scripts  of  President  Edwards,  which  were  left  in  his  possession, 
he  has  certainly  done  much  towards  moulding  the  theological 
character  of  New  England.     By  his  system  of  divinity,  his 


440  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

four  religious  biographies,  and  his  ten  additional  publications, 
he  has  given  an  impulse  to  many  who  have  been  esteemed 
more  useful  than  himself.  Dr.  Jonathan  Edwards  ascribed 
his  own  speculative  convictions  of  the  truth  to  the  reasoning 
of  Hopkins.  A  pastor  of  one  of  the  largest  churches  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, who  was  extensively  admired  for  his  rich  and  va- 
ried eloquence,  who  was  honoured  as  an  instrument  of  many 
religious  revivals,  in  one  of  which  more  than  a  hundred  per- 
sons were  gathered  into  the  fold  of  his  church,  who  was  withal 
somewhat  eminent  as  a  theological  instructor  and  controver- 
sialist, and  who  has  now  several  descendants  in  the  ministry, 
was  converted  to  the  truth  by  the  blessing  of  Heaven  upon  the 
labours  of  Hopkins.  And  there  was  another  divine,  who  owed 
his  renovation  to  the  same  instrumentality  ; — a  divine  whose 
acquaintance  was  sought  and  prized  by  the  most  eminent  the- 
ologians in  our  own  land,  and  by  some  in  England  ; — a  polished 
gentleman,  who  was  said  by  his  parishioner.  Judge  Sedgwick, 
to  be  "  sure  of  silencing  with  his  urbanity  of  manner  those  who 
were  not  convinced  by  his  logic."  For  more  than  fifty-nine 
years  he  retained  the  pastoral  care  of  a  people  among  whom 
Edwards  had  written  his  treatise  on  the  will,  in  whose  cultiva- 
ted village  lived  six  judges  of  our  courts,  and  from  whose  in- 
tellectual circle  there  have  come  forth  one  president  of  Cam- 
bridge University,  one  president,  as  well  as  the  original  founder 
of  Williams  College.  He  wrote  and  preached  more  than  three 
thousand  sermons,  published  nineteen  books,  some  of  standard 
value.  His  reputation  as  a  theological  teacher  is  illustrated  by 
the  fact,  that  on  the  list  of  his  divinity  students,  are  found  the 
names  of  President  Kirkland,  Dr.  Hyde,  Dr.  Catlin,  and  Dr. 
Samuel  Spring.  During  his  pastoral  life  he  was  active  in  six 
different  revivals  of  religion  among  his  people,  and  he  admitted 
to  his  church  three  hundred  and  eighty-four  persons  from  the 
world,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  from  other  churches.  He 
died  with  the  title  of  "  patriarch  of  his  neighbourhood,"  and 


REV.    MK.    M.  441 

the  seeds  which  he  scattered  are  still  bearing  fruit.  In  the  ex- 
tended usefulness,  then,  of  these  two  divines,  both  of  whom 
were  so  largely  indebted  to  Dr.  Hopkins,  we  see  a  portion  of 
the  results  of  his  labours.  In  the  churches  where  their  influ- 
ence will  long  remain,  in  the  churches  of  which  he  himself  was 
the  pastor,  he  has  been  and  still  is  enlarging  the  intellect  and 
purifying,  through  grace,  the  affections  of  men.  He  saw,  at 
the  last,  a  hundred  of  his  own  parishioners  subscribe  with  their 
own  hands  to  be  the  Lord's,  and  he  started  more  than  a  hun- 
dred circles,  which  will  widen  and  expand  upon  the  lake,  wave 
following  wave,  silently  pursuing  in  all  future  time,  but  never 
overtaking  each  other,  and  never  permitting  the  sheet  of  waters 
to  become  stagnant. 


REV.  J.  PATTERSON. 


The  New  York  Christian  Magazine,  for  1810,  tells  us  that 
the  Rev.  Joseph  Patterson,  of  Washington  county,  in  that  State, 
with  a  view  to  promote  Christian  zeal  among  his  people,  fixed 
up  a  box  in  his  church,  with  the  inscription,  "  O  give  me  a 
Bible !"  At  the  end  of  three  months  the  box  was  opened,  and 
was  found  to  contain  thirty-two  dollars  and  fifty  cents,  which 
sum  was  forwarded  to  the  Bible  Society,  in  Philadelphia. 


REV.  MR.  M. 


The  following  incident  may  serve  to  show  what  can  be  dono 
by  a  single  individual,  when  animated  with  ardent  love  to  Christ 
and  solicitude  for  the  souls  of  men  ;  and  the  part  borne  in  this 


442  THE    AMERICAN    CLERG  i \ 

narrative  by  a  poor  simpleton,  proves  how  God  can  make  use 
of  the  weakest  and  most  despised  instrument  in  bringing  about 
His  purposes  of  mercy.    When  the  Rev.  Mr.  M.  was  a  student 
at  Princeton,  N.  J.  in  1841,  he  was  equally  distinguished  for 
his  glowing  and  unwearied  zeal  as  he  is  at  present.     There 
were  but  few  Baptists,  the  denomination  to  which  he  belonged, 
in  that  region,  but  his  zeal  for  the  cause  of  the  Lord  won  for 
him  the  hearts  of  all  Christians  of  whatever  name.     It  was  his 
delight  to  go  out  and  preach  the  gospel  wherever  he  could  col- 
lect hearers.     One  evening  during  vacation,  when  he  had  been 
thus  preaching,  a  poor  half-witted  man  came  up  to  him  and 
asked  him  if  he  would  not  visit  the  part  where  he  lived,  and 
preach  for  the  neighbours  there.     Mr.  M.,  always  ready  to 
accept  such  an  invitation  by  whoever  given,  assented.     The 
intervening  day  was   spent   by   the   simpleton  in  going  from 
house  to  house,  telling  the  neighbours,  in  allusion  to  the  ex- 
treme youth  of  the  preacher,  that  "  a  boy  was  coming  to  preach 
for  them,"  adding,  "and  he  will  convert  you  all."     Considera- 
able  interest  and  curiosity  were  excited,  and  when  evening 
came  the  place  of  meeting  was  crowded.     A  front  seat  was 
occupied  by  a  number  of  young  ladies,  who  were  talking  and 
laughing  together;  some  of  them  afterwards  owned  that  they 
never  felt  more  light  and  trifling  than  they  did  when  they 
came  together  that  evening.     The  young  preacher  arrived,  and 
as  he  passed,  he  heard  the  derisive  whisper  run  through  this 
front  seat — "This,  then,  is  he  who  is  to  convert  us  all."     He 
took  his  place  and  gave  out  a  hymn.     The  earnestness  of  his 
tones  seemed  at  once  to  arrest  the  attention  of  the  assembly ; 
and  when  he  began  to  preach,  he  had  not  proceeded  far  before 
many   of  his  hearers  were  in  tears.     The  young  ladies,  to 
whom  we  have  before  alluded,  were  deeply  affected,  and  the 
blessed  results  of  that  meeting  will  be  felt  throughout  eternity. 
The  careless  were  arrested  in  their  thoughtless  course,  and 
though  the  words  of  the  simpleton  were  not  fulfilled  to  all,  yet 


A    CLERGYMAN    IN    NEW    YORK.  443 

they  were  to  many,  who  can  look  back  to  that  season  as  the 
lime  when  they  were  turned  "from  darkness  to  light,  and  from 
the  power  of  Satan  unto  God."  One  of  these  young  ladies 
afterwards  became  the  wife  of  the  preacher.  She  was  one  of 
fifty  who  gave  hopeful  evidence  of  conversion,  and  were  added 
to  the  church  as  the  result  of  the  revival  thus  commenced. 


A  CLERGYMAN  IN  NEW  YORK. 

A  SHORT  time  since,  a  minister  of  New  York  city,  with  a 
view  to  encourage  others  in  attempts  to  do  good,  related  the  fol 
lowing  fact. 

Some  three  or  four  years  ago,  we  were  building  our  house 
Our  money  was  all  gone.  We  had  done  to  the  utmost  of  our 
ability,  and  had  resolved  to  stop  when  our  funds  were  expended. 
One  day  I  was  standing  with  rather  a  sad  heart  looking  at  the 
workmen.  I  knew  we  had  just  enough  money  left  to  pay  the 
bricklayers  for  that  day's  work,  and  that,  at  night,  unless  God 
should  appear  for  us  in  some  unexpected  providential  way,  they 
must  all  be  discharged,  for  we  knew  not  where  to  get  the  next 
dollar.  What  to  do,  I  did  not  know,  but  silently  sent  up  my 
prayer  to  God,  that  he  would  appear  for  our  help.  While 
standing  there,  a  gentleman  stopped  to  look  at  the  building,  and 
presently  addressed  me.  "Can  you  tell  me,"  said  he,  "who  is 
erecting  this  building,  and  where  I  can  see  any  of  the  mana- 
gers or  trustees'?"  "Yes,  sir,  I  am  the  pastor — what  did  you 
wish?"  "  Why  I  am  one  of  a  Committee  to  obtain  a  suitable 
room  for  a  public  primary  school  in  this  neighbourhood;  and, 
if  you  can  let  us  have  the  basement  of  this  house,  we  will  beat 
the  expense  of  finishing  that  room,  and,  if  it  will  be  any  'help, 
we  will  furnish  you  with  a  thousand  dollars  or  so,  ns  \]\(^  ad- 


444  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

vance  rent  for  three  or  four  years."  The  engagement  was 
soon  concluded,  and  our  house  was  before  long  completed  with 
the  money  that  God  thus  providentially  sent  us. 


A  NEW  ENGLAND  MINISTER. 

A  MINISTER  in  New  England  not  very  long  since  related  the 
following  fact; — 

One  of  the  ministers  in  Essex  county  made  an  appointment 
on  the  Sabbath  for  a  meeting  of  the  friends  of  foreign  missions, 
on  a  designated  evening  of  the  same  week.  He  was  punctual 
to  his  own  appointment,  but  found  only  a  single  individual  pre- 
sent to  participate  in  the  duties  of  the  evening.  They  determined, 
however,  that  the  object  should  not  be  defeated,  and  discussed 
the  question,  "  What  ought  to  be  done  by  that  church  and  peo- 
ple towards  the  conversion  of  the  world?"  and  came  to  the 
resolve,  unanimously,  that  a  hundred  dollars  could  be  raised, 
ought  to  be  raised,  and  sliould  be  raised  for  the  object  forth- 
with. The  meeting  was  then  adjourned;  and,  before  the  ex- 
piration of  the  week,  they  had  secured  more  than  ninety  dollars. 
This  was  a  greater  amount  than  they  had  ever  raised  in  a  sin- 
gle year  before.  Who  will  not  persevere  in  doing  good,  in  spite 
of  all  the  difficulties  which  may  encompass  his  path? 


REV.  MR.  PRINCE. 


The  Rev.  Dr.  Wisner  remarks  that  the  destruction  of  the 
French  armament  under  the  duke  D'Anville,  in  the  year  1746, 
should  be  remembered  with  gratitude  and  admiratioa  by  every 


REV.    MK.    PRINCE.  140 

inhabitant  of  America.  This  fleet,  consisting  of  forty  ships  of 
war,  was  destined  for  the  destruction  of  New  England.  It 
sailed  from  Chebucto,  in  Nova  Scotia,  for  this  purpose.  In  the 
mean  time,  the  pious  people,  apprized  of  their  danger,  had  ap- 
pointed a  season  of  fasting  and  prayer,  to  be  observed  in  all 
their  churches.  While  Mr.  Prince  was  officiating  in  Old  South 
*ctiurch,  Boston,  on  this  fast-day,  and  praying  most  fervently 
that  the  dreaded  calamity  might  be  averted,  a  sudden  gust  of 
wind  arose,  (the  day  had  till  then  been  perfectly  calm,)  so 
violent  as  to  cause  a  loud  clattering  of  the  windows.  The 
reverend  pastor  paused  in  his  prayer;  and  looking  round  upon 
the  congregation  with  a  countenance  of  hope,  he  again  com- 
menced, and  with  great  devotional  ardor,  supplicated  the  Al- 
mighty to  cause  that  wind  to  frustrate  the  object  of  their 
enemies.  A  tempest  ensued,  in  which  the  greater  part  of  the 
French  fleet  was  wrecked.  The  duke  D'Anville,  the  principal 
general,  and  the  second  in  command,  both  committed  suicide. 
Many  died  with  disease,  and  thousands  were  consigned  to  a 
watery  grave.  The  small  number  who  remained  alive  re- 
turned to  France,  without  health  and  without  spirits,  and  the 
enterprise  was  abandoned,  and  never  again  resumed. 

With  reference  lo  this  and  other  similar  instances,  the  late 
President  D wight  remarks,  in  a  discourse  on  answers  to  prayer: 
"  I  am  bound,  as  an  inhabitant  of  New  England,  to  declare, 
that,  were  there  no  other  instances  to  be  found  in  any  other 
country,  the  blessings  communicated  to  this  would  furnish 
ample  satisfaction  concerning  this  subject,  to  every  sober,  much 
more  to  every  pious  man." 


38 


446  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


BISHOP  M'lLVAINE. 


Bishop  M'llvaine  says : — I  was  called  from  my  study,  to  see 
u  man  who  had  come  on  business.  I  found  in  the  parlour  a 
well-dressed  person,  of  respectable  appearance,  good  manners, 
and  sensible  conversation — a  stranger.  After  a  little  while  he 
looked  at  me  earnestly,  and  said,  "I  think,  sir,  I  have  seen 
your  face  before."  "  Probably,"  said  I,  supposing  he  had  seen 
me  in  the  pulpit.  "  Did  you  not  once  preach  in  the  receiving 
ship  at  the  navy-yard,  on  the  prodigal  son,  sir?"  "  Yes."  " Did 
you  not  afterwards  go  to  a  sailor,  sitting  on  his  chest,  and  take 
his  hand,  and  say,  'Friend,  do  you  love  to  read  your  Bible?'" 
"Yes."  "I,  sir,  was  that  sailor;  but  then  I  knew  nothing 
about  the  Bible,  or  about  God ;  I  was  a  poor,  ignorant,  de- 
graded sinner."  His  history  was,  in  substance,  as  follows: 
He  had  been  twenty-five  years  a  sailor,  and  nearly  all  that 
time  in  the  service  of  the  British  navy,  indulging  in  all  the  ex- 
tremes of  a  sailor's  vices.  Drunkenness,  debauchery,  and  pro- 
faneness,  made  up  his  character.  The  fear  of  death,  or  hell, 
or  God,  had  not  entered  his  mind.  Such  was  he,  a  sink  of  de- 
pravity, when  a  preacher  one  day  assembled  a  little  congrega- 
tion of  sailors  in  the  ship  to  which  he  was  attached,  and  spoke 
on  the  text,  "Behold,  now  is  the  accepted  time;  behold,  now 
is  the  day  of  salvation."  He  listened,  merely  because  the 
preacher  was  once  a  sailor.  Soon  it  appeared  to  him  that  the 
preacher  saw  and  knew  him,  though  he  was  sitting  where  he 
supposed  himself  concealed.  Every  word  seemed  to  be  meant 
for  a  description  of  him.  To  avoid  being  seen  and  marked,  he 
several  times  changed  his  place,  carefully  getting  behind  the 
others.  But,  wherever  he  went,  the  preacher  seemed  to  follow 
him,  and  to  describe  his  course  of  life,  as  if  he  knew  it  all.  At 
length  the  discourse  was  ended ;  and  the  poor  sailor,  assured 


A   MINISTER    AMONG    THE    CHEROKEES.  447 

that  he  had  been  the  single  object  of  the  speaker's  labours, 
went  up  and  seized  his  hand,  and  said,  "  Sir,  I  am  the  very- 
man:  that  is  just  the  life  I  have  led.  I  am  a  poor  miserable 
man;  but  I  feel  a  desire  to  be  good,  and  will  thank  you  for 
some  of  your  advice  on  the  subject."  The  preacher  bade  him 
pray.  He  answered,  "  I  have  never  prayed  in  my  life,  but  that 
I  might  be  damned,  as  when  I  was  swearing;  arid  I  don't 
know  how  to  pray."  He  was  instructed.  It  was  a  day  or  two 
after  this,  while  his  mind  was  anxious  but  unenlightened,  that 
Providence  led  me  to  him,  while  sitting  on  his  chest.  He  said 
I  showed  him  a  verse  of  the  Bible  as  one  that  would  guide  him. 
I  asked  if  he  remembered  which  it  was.  "Yes,  it  was,  'Him 
that  Cometh  unto  me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out.' "  Soon  after 
this,  his  mind  was  comforted  with  a  hope  of  salvation  through 
Jesus  Christ.  His  vices  were  all  abandoned.  He  became 
from  that  time  a  new  creature  in  all  his  dispositions  and  habits; 
took  special  care  to  be  scrupulously  attentive  to  every  duty  of 
his  station ;  gained  the  confidence  of  his  officers,  and,  having 
left  the  service,  continued  an  exemplary  member  of  society  and 
of  the  church  of  Christ.  He  was  so  entirely  renewed,  that  no 
one  could  imagine,  from  his  appearance  or  manners,  that  he 
had  been  for  twenty-five  years  a  drunken,  abandoned  sailor. 


A  MINISTER  AMONG  THE  CHEROKEES. 

Some  years  ago,  three  ministers  went  to  preach  to  the  Che- 
rokee Indians.  One  preached  very  deliberately  and  coolly ; 
and  the  chiefs  held  a  council  to  know  whether  the  Great  Spirit 
spoke  to  them  through  that  man;  and  they  declared  he  did  not, 
because  he  was  not  so  much  engaged  as  their  head  men  wore 
in  their  national  concerns.     Another  spoke  to  them  in  a  most 


418  THE    AMERICAN    CLEKGY. 

vehement  manner ;  and  they  again  determined  in  council  that 
the  Great  Spirit  did  not  speak  to  them  through  that  man,  be- 
cause he  was  mad.  The  third  preached  to  them  in  an  earnest 
and  fervent  manner;  and  they  agreed  that  the  Great  Spirit 
might  speak  to  them  through  him,  because  he  was  both  earnest 
and  affectionate.     The  last  was  ever  after  kindly  received. 


A  PREA.CHER  FROM  ENGLAND. 

About  the  year  1773,  a  great  revival  of  religion  took  place 
in  the  southern  part  of  our  country,  by  means  of  some  preach- 
ers from  England.  Many,  both  whites  and  blacks,  were  brought 
to  an  acquaintance  with  God,  by  faith  in  Christ.  Two  of 
these,  a  white  man  and  an  African,  meeting  together,  began  to 
speak  of  the  goodness  of  God  to  their  souls.  Among  other 
things,  they  were  led  to  inquire  how  long  each  had  known  the 
salvation  of  God,  and  how  long  it  was,  after  they  were  con- 
vinced of  their  sin  and  danger,  before  each  got  a  satisfactory 
evidence  of  their  pardoning  mercy.  The  white  man  said,  "  I 
was  three  months  in  deep  distress  of  soul  before  God  spoke 
peace  to  my  guilty  conscience !"  "  But  it  was  only  a  fortnight," 
said  the  black  man,  "  from  the  time  I  first  heard  of  Jesus,  and 
felt  that  I  was  a  sinner,  till  I  received  the  knowledge  of  salva- 
tion by  the  remission  of  sins."  "  But  what  was  the  reason," 
asked  the  white  man,  "that  you  found  salvation  sooner  than  I 
did?"  "  This  is  the  reason,"  replied  the  other,  "You  white  men 
have  much  clothing  upon  you,  and  when  Christ  calls,  you  can- 
not run  to  him ;  but  we  poor  negroes  have  only  this,"  pomting 
to  the  mat  or  cloth  which  was  tied  round  his  neck,  "and  when 
we  hear  the  call,  we  throw  it  off  instantly,  and  run  to  him." 


REV.    G.    WHITEKIELD  449 


REV.  G.  WHITEFIELD. 


Who  can  tell  the  results  of  a  single  sermon,  or  trace  the 
consequences  of  one  conversion  ?  When  Mr.  Whitefield  was 
preaching  in  New  England,  a  lady  became  the  subject  of  Di- 
vine grace,  and  of  course  devoted  to  prayer.  But  in  her  Chris- 
tian exercises  she  was  alone ;  she  could  induce  no  one  to  pray 
with  her  but  her  little  daughter,  about  ten  years  of  age.  She 
took  this  dear  child  into  her  closet  'from  day  to  day  as  a  wit- 
ness of  her  cries  and  tears.  After  a  time,  it  pleased  God  to 
touch  the  heart  of  the  child,  and  to  give  her  the  knowledge  of 
salvation  by  the  remission  of  sin.  In  a  transport  of  holy  joy, 
she  then  exclaimed  to  her  mother,  "O  mother,  if  all  the  world 
knew  this !  I  wish  I  could  tell  every  body  !  Pray,  mother, 
let  me  run  to  some  of  the  neighbours,  and  tell  them,  that  they 
may  be  happy,  and  love  my  Saviour  too !"  "  Ah,  my  dear 
child,"  said  the  mother,  "  that  would  be  useless,  for  I  suppose 
that  .were  you  to  tell  your  experience,  there  is  not  one  within 
many  miles  but  what  would  laugh  at  you,  and  say  it  was  all 
delusion."  "O  mother,"  replied  the  dear  girl,  "I  think  they 
would  believe  me.  I  must  go  over  to  the  shoemaker,  and  tell 
him,  he  will  believe  me."  She  ran  over,  and  found  him  at 
work  in  his  shop.  She  began  by  telling  him  that  he  must  die, 
and  that  he  was  a  sinner,  and  that  she  was  a  sinner,  but  that 
her  blessed  Saviour  had  heard  her  mother's  prayers,  and  had 
forgiven  all  her  sins  ;  and  that  now  she  was  so  happy,  that  she 
did  not  know  how  to  tell  it !  The  shoemaker  was  struck  with 
surprise ;  his  tears  flowed  down  like  rain ;  he  threw  aside  his 
work,  and  by  prayer  and  suplication  sought  for  mercy.  The 
neighbourhood  became  excited,  and  within  a  few  months  there 
were  more  than  fifty  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  Jesus,  re- 
joicing in  his  power  and  grace. 

3S* 


450  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 


A  MISTAKEN  MINISTER. 

The  following  anecdote  bears  strong  testimony  in  favour  of 
labouring  and  praying  for  the  immediate  conversion  of  young 
children  in  our  Sabbath-schools.  A  minister  in  Massachusetts, 
who  felt  a  lively  interest  in  the  Sabbath-school,  used  to  pray 
that  the  seed  there  sown  might  spring  up  in  due  time  and  bear 
fruit.  He  not  only  prayed  in  this  manner  himself,  but  by  his 
example,  taught  the  teachers  thus  to  pray.  They  never  once 
thought  of  praying  for  the  immediate  conversion  of  the  scho- 
lars. At  length  this  minister  heard  that  some  two  or  three  of 
the  scholars  who  had  been  in  the  school  for  some  time  were 
beginning  to  indulge  the  hope  that  they  had  passed  from  death 
unto  life.  He  called  to  see  them,  and  on  inquiring,  found  that 
their  feelings  began  to  change  at  just  about  the  age  that  he  and 
the  teachers  had  supposed  would  be  the  due  time,  when  the 
seed  might  begin  to  spring  and  grow  and  bear  fruit.  This  led 
him  to  believe  that  if  he  had  only  fixed  upon  an  earlier  time, 
and  laboured  accordingly,  they  might  have  given  their  hearts 
to  the  Saviour  long  before.  He  was  convinced  of  his  error. 
He  met  the  teachers  and  said  to  them,  we  have  been  wrong 
entirely  wrong.  We  ought  to  have  prayed  for  their  immediate 
conversion  then  exhorted  them  to  direct  all  their  efforts  to  this 
point,  and  not  to  rest  satisfied  so  long  as  one  child  in  the  school 
was  unreconciled  to  God.  They  began  to  pray,  and  God  soon 
poured  out  his  spirit  upon  the  school,  and  convinced  minister 
and  teachers  that  it  is  right  to  pray  for  the  immediate  conver- 
sion, of  little  children.  Let  all  who  have  any  thing  to  do  with 
the  religious  instruction  of  little  children,  take  heed  lest  their 
garments  be  stained  with  the  blood  of  their  souls. 


EEV.    DAVID    BRAINERD.  451 


REV.  DAVID  BRAINERD. 


There  are  some  interesting  facts  connected  with  the  labours 
of  this  extraordinary   young  man   among  the  Indians,  which 
ought  never  to  be  forgotten.     It  is  well  known  that  in  June 
1745,  he  first  began  to  labour  among  a  small  body  of  these 
people  in  New  Jersey.    For  the  first  six  weeks  they  manifested 
such  entire   indifference  and  stupid   unconcern,  that  he  was 
about  to  leave  them  in  despair,  when  he  was  somewhat  encou- 
raged by  the  conversion  of  his  interpreter.     The  interest  with 
which  this  man  now  entered  into  the  subject,  and  the  warmth 
lind  unction  with  which  he  translated  Mr.  Brainerd's  discourses, 
^ii'jck  the  Indians  with  surprise,  and  arrested  their  attention. 
On  the  8th  of  August,  he  preached  to  about  sixty-five  of  them, 
iimong  whom  he  discovered  much  anxious  concern.     In  pri- 
^  ate  intercourse  with  them  afterwards,  the  power  of  God  seemed 
to  descend  upon  them  like  a  mighty  rushing  wind.     Almost  all 
persons,  of  all  ages,  were  bowed  down  with  concern  together, 
and  were  scarcely  able  to  withstand  the  shock.     Old  men  and 
women,  who  had  been  drunken  wretches  for  many  years,  and 
some  children,  appeared  in  distress  for  their  souls.     One  who 
had  been  a  murderer,  a  pow-ivow^  or  conjuror,  and  a  noto- 
rious drunkard,  was  brought  to  cry  for  mercy  with  many  tears. 
A  young  Indian  woman,  who  never  before  knew  that  she  had 
a  soul,  had  come  to  see  what  was  the  matter ;  she  called  on 
Mr.  Brainerd  on  her  way,  and  when  he  told  her  that  he  was 
about  to  preach  to  the  Indians,  she  laughed,  and  seemed  to 
mock.     He  had  not  proceeded  far  in  his  sermon  before  she  felt 
effectually  that  she  had  a  soul,  and  before  it  was  ended,  was  so 
distressed  with  concern  for  its  salvation,  that  she  seemed  like 
one  pierced  through  with  a  dart.     Such  scenes  were  frequently 
repeated  during  the  following  eight  weeks.     Mr.  Brainerd  says ; 
"  This  surprising  concern  was  never  excited  by  any  harangues 


452  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

of  terror,  but  always  appeared  most  remarkable  when  I  in- 
sisted on  the  compassion  of  a  dying  Saviour,  the  plentiful  pro- 
visions of  the  Gospel,  and  the  h'ee  offer  of  divine  grace  to 
needy  sinners.  The  effects  have  been  very  remarkable.  I 
doubt  not  but  many  of  these  people  have  gained  more  doctrinal 
knowledge  of  divine  truth  since  I  visited  them  in  June  last, 
than  could  have  been  instilled  into  their  minds  by  the  most  di- 
ligent use  of  proper  and  instructive  means  for  whole  years 
together  without  such  a  divine  influence.  They  seem  gene- 
rally divorced  from  their  drunkenness,  which  is  the  sin  that 
easily  besets  them.  A  principle  of  honesty  and  justice  appears 
among  them,  and  they  seem  concerned  to  discharge  their  old 
debts,  which  they  have  neglected,  and,  perhaps,  scarcely  thought 
of  for  years.  Love  seems  to  reign  among  them,  especially 
those  who  have  given  evidence  of  having  passed  through  a 
saving  change.  Their  consolations  do  not  incline  them  to 
lightness,  but,  on  the  contrary,  are  attended  with  solemnity, 
and  often  with  tears  and  apparent  brokenness  of  heart."  After 
some  months'  probation,  he  baptized  forty-seven  out  of  less 
than  one  hundred,  who  composed  the  settlement. 


REV.  PRESIDENT  DAVIES. 


The  influence  of  the  Pulpit  in  stimulating  the  heroes  of  the 
Revolutionary  war  was  unquestionably  great.  The  eloquent 
Samuel  Davies,  in  an  address  to  one  of  the  Militia  companies, 
pronounced  a  celebrated  encomium  on  Washington,  in  a  single 
sentence,  which  animated  his  hearers,  and  proved  prophetic  as 
to  its  subject.  After  praising  the  zeal  and  courage  which  had 
been  shown  by  the  Virginia  troops,  the  preacher  added: — "As 
a  remarkable  instance  of  this,  I  may  point  out  to  the  public 
that   heroic  youth.  Colonel  Washington,  whom  I  cannot  but 


REV.    GILBERT    TENNENT.  453 

hope  Providence  has  hitherto  preserved  in  so  signal  a  manner 
for  some  important  service  to  his  country."  This  was  but  the 
echo  of  the  general  voice. 


The  fruits  of  this  devoted  minister  of  Christ  were  not  ephe- 
meral— they  did  not  end  in  excitement.  He  went  to  his  rest 
long  since.  But  the  fruits  of  his  ministry  still  remain,  in  the 
consistent  piety  of  those  who  were  reared  under  the  influence 
of  parents  brought  into  the  church  by  his  labours.  A  gentle- 
man in  Tennessee  says: — "The  fruits  of  the  great  revival  in 
Hanover  under  the  preaching  of  Samuel  Davies,  are  now 
spreading  and  growing  in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  There 
are  many  of  the  children  and  children's  children  of  those  per- 
sons who  professed  religion  in  Hanover,  under  the  ministry  of 
that  eminent  man  of  God,  now  scattered  in  this  great  valley ; 
and  I  know  of  no  instance  where  they  go,  but  an  altar  is  reared 
for  the  worship  of  God  in  their  families  and  neighbourhoods." 


REV.  GILBERT  TENNENT. 


Dr.  Franklin  gives  an  interesting  account  of  this  excellent 
man.  It  is  well  known  that  he  was  the  friend  and  companion 
of  Mr.  Whitefield,  and  that  he  became  the  minister  of  the 
people  whom  that  eminent  minister  collected  together  in  Phila- 
delphia. 

Dr.  F.  says : — The  Rev.  Gilbert  Tennent  came  to  me  with 
a  request  that  I  would  assist  him  in  obtaining  a  subscription 
for  erecting  a  new  meeting-house.  It  was  to  be  for  the  use  of 
a  congregation  he  had  gathered  among  the  Presbyterians,  who 
were  originally  the  disciples  of  Mr.  Whitefield.     Unwilling  to 


454  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

make  myself  disagreeable  to  my  fellow-citizens,  by  too  fre- 
quently soliciting  their  contributions,  I  absolutely  refused.  He 
then  desired  I  would  furnish  him  with  a  list  of  the  names  of 
persons  I  knew  by  experience  to  be  generous  and  public-spi- 
rited. I  thought  it  would  be  unbecoming  in  me,  after  their 
kind  compliance  with  my  solicitations,  to  mark  them  out  to  be 
worried  by  other  beggars,  and  therefore  refused  to  give  such  a 
list.  He  then  desired  I  would  at  least  give  my  advice.  "  That 
I  will  readily  do,"  said  I ;  "  and,  in  the  first  place,  I  advise  you 
to  apply  to  all  those  who  you  know  will  give  something;  next, 
to  those  who  you  are  uncertain  whether  they  will  give  any 
thing  or  not,  and  show  them  the  list  of  those  who  have  given ; 
and,  lastly,  do  not  neglect  those  who  you  are  sure  will  give 
nothing,  for  in  some  of  them  you  may  be  mistaken."  He 
laughed,  and  thanked  me,  and  said  he  would  take  my  advice. 
He  did  so,  for  he  asked  of  everybody ;  and  he  obtained  a 
much  larger  sum  than  he  expected,  with  which  he  erected 
the  capacious  and  elegant  meeting-house  that  stands  in  Arch 
street. 


REV.  DR.  B. 


Some  years  since,  a  merchant  at  Boston  sent  a  variety  of 
useful  articles  as  a  present  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  B.,  his  pastor, 
accompanied  with  a  note,  desiring  his  acceptance  of  it  as  a 
comment  on  Gal.  vi.  6  :  "  Let  him  that  is  taught  in  the  word, 
communicate  to  him  that  teacheth  in  all  good  things."  The 
good  doctor,  who  was  then  confined  by  sickness,  returned  his 
compliments  to  Mr.  W.,  thanked  him  for  his  excellent  Family 
Expositor,  and  requested  him  to  give  him  a  practical  exposi- 
tion of  Matt.  XXV.  36  :  "I  was  sick,  and  ye  visited  me." 


A    HOME    MISSIONARY.  455 


REV.  DR.  BACKUS. 


The  Rev.  Dr.  Backus,  of  Somers,  was  more  than  once  in- 
vited to  accept  tlie  professorship  of  Divinity,  both  in  the  college 
of  Dartmouth  and  in  Yale.  The  reasons  of  his  refusal  he  did 
not  communicate,  but  the  principal  one  is  not  improbably  found 
in  the  following  anecdote : — A  gentleman,  who  was  a  repre- 
sentative from  Somers,  in  the  legislature,  sitting  at  New  Haven, 
while  Dr.  Backus  was  deliberating  on  this  subject,  was  urged 
by  one  of  his  friends  to  use  his  influence  in  persuading  the 
people  of  Somers  to  unite  with  their  minister  in  calling  an 
ecclesiastical  council,  which  should  decide  on  the  propriety  or 
impropriety  of  his  acceptance.  He  replied,  "  You  solicit  me 
in  vain.  If  Dr.  Backus  resolves  to  leave  us,  we  cannot  help 
it ;  but  we  will  never  consent  to  call  a  council  for  the  purpose 
of  determining  on  our  own  destruction.  If  he  leaves  us,  we 
are  undone ;  and  no  people  can  be  reasonably  expected,  or 
desired,  voluntarily  to  take  measures  to  accomplish  their  own 


A  HOME  MISSIONARY. 


It  was  a  fine  day  in ,  when  a  steamboat  left  St.  Louis 

for  Cincinnati.  More  than  two  hundred  passengers  enjoyed 
the  beauty  of  the  scene  and  scenery,  and  the  excitement  of  the 
passage.  Among  them  were  all  classes  and  conditions,  pro- 
fessions and  characters.  There  was  seen  the  missionary,  who 
had  spent  many  years  in  preaching  the  gospel  among  the 
lieathen  of  Eastern  Asia.  There  was  a  Home  Missionary, 
too,  who  had  spent  his  tour  of  labour  in  the  Great  Valley,  in 
proclaiming  to  destitute  thousands  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of 
God,  and  who  was  now  returning  to  his  home  in  one  of  the 


456  THE    AMERICAN    CLERCST. 

Middle  States.  There  was  the  reckless  and  profane,  the  Sab- 
bath-breaker and  the  infidel ;  there,  too,  was  the  civilian  of 
firm  and  decisive  Christian  character,  as  well  as  many  a  nomi- 
nal Christian.  The  Sabbath  was  at  hand,  as  the  boat  ap- 
proached a  city  on  the  noble  river  Ohio.  Those  who  loved  the 
Sabbath,  and  made  it  a  rule  of  life  to  honour  God,  in  the  ob- 
servance of  that  day  "  made  for  man,"  had  settled  their 
arrangements  to  leave  the  boat  at  this  city,  and,  after  the  Sab- 
bath, to  pursue  their  journey.  A  goodly  number  thus  honoured 
the  God  of  the  sacred  day.  The  Foreign  Missionary  led  the 
way;  the  Home  Missionary  hesitated,  doubted,  and  finally  said 
that  he  had  only  the  money  to  carry  him  home  in  the  shortest 
time,  and  that  he  could  not  stop  on  expense  over  the  Sabbath, 
and  be  able  to  pay  his  way  homewards.  "What  shall  I  do, 
and  what  ought  I  to  do?"  was  his  inquiry,  made  with  deep 
interest  in  view  of  his  condition.  The  reply  of  the  civilian 
was,  "  Obey  the  commands  of  God,  and  then  trust  Him ;  hun- 
dreds know  you  are  a  missionary  and  a  minister  of  the  gospel, 
and  will  feel  the  influence  of  your  pernicious  example.  The 
cause  of  Christ  will  bleed,  that  a  missionary  should  travel  on 
the  Sabbath — that  a  clergyman  should  violate  the  Sabbath. 
*  Trust  in  God  ;'  no  other  course  is  safe  or  cheap."  He  was 
convinced,  moved,  resolved,  and  went  on  shore  with  the  others, 
and  passed  the  Sabbath,  not  without  some  apprehensions  that 
he  might  be  troubled  by  the  expense.  On  Monday,  another 
boat  took  them  on  their  way.  The  Home  Missionary  came 
with  a  cheerful  countenance ;  even  the  lines  of  solicitude  on 
his  face  had  disappeared.  His  expenses  had  been  paid  by 
some  unknown  friend ;  and  he  felt  constrained  to  declare  with 
gratitude,  "  I  will  obey,  and  hereafter  trust  the  Lord." 


A    MIMSTEK    IN    NKW    VOKK.  457 


A  MINISTER  IN  NEW  YORK. 


IIow  often  is  the  pulpit  introduced  into  a  neighbourhood  by 
very  unexpected  means !  The  Rev.  Mr.  Cook,  of  New  York, 
not  long  since  related  the  following  pleasing  fact : — 

In  1807,  a  gentleman,  journeying  in  the  interior  of  New 
York,  then  regarded  as  the  far  West,  took  with  him  some 
copies  of  Doddridge's  "  Rise  and  Progress  of  Religion  in  the 
Soul,"  for  distribution.  As  he  stopped  at  a  cabin  tavern,  he 
noticed  that  the  woman  who  waited  on  him  at  table,  was  busily 
engaged  in  reading.  He  inquired  what  book  she  had,  and 
learned  that  it  was  the  "  Rise  and  Progress,"  which  a  neigh- 
bour had  lent  to  her,  and  from  which  she  was  copying  pas- 
sages which  had  peculiarly  interested  lier  mind.  He  gave  her 
a  copy  of  the  book,  which  she  received  with  great  delight.  In 
1839,  he  was  again  passing  that  way ;  and,  on  inquiring  for  this 
woman  by  name,  he  was  pointed  to  an  elegant  house  as  her 
residence.  He  called  on  her,  and  asked  her  if  she  remembered 
him.  She  did  not.  "  But  do  you  not  remember  the  man  who 
gave  you  Doddridge's  Rise  and  Progress,  thirty  years  ago'?'' 
"  Oh,  yes!"  said  she;  "are  you  the  same  man?  Why,  that 
book  was  the  means  of  converting  my  soul ;  and  it  was  lent 
around,  and  others  read  it,  and  we  had  meetings  to  read  it 
together.  It  was  read  at  huskings  and  bees,  and  on  the  Sab- 
bath  day,  and  a  revival  followed ;  and  by  and  by,  we  sent  for 
a  minister,  and  formed  a  church.  The  church  at  Wyoming  is 
the  fruit  of  that  seed." 


39 


458  THE    AMERICAN    CLEKttY. 


REV.  MR.  MASSE Y. 


There  are  many  ways  of  assisting  ministers  in  the  dis- 
charge of  their  important  duties,  which  seldom  occur  to  com- 
mon minds,  but  eminently  conduce  to  the  advancement  ot 
religion.  One  of  these  may  be  told  in  connection  with  General 
Washington,  whose  usefulness  extended  to  every  object  within 
the  sphere  of  his  influence.  In  the  affairs  of  Truro  parish,  to 
which  Mount  Vernon  belonged,  he  took  a  lively  concern,  and 
exercised  a  salutary  control.  He  was  a  vestryman  of  that 
parish.  On  one  occasion,  he  gained  a  triumph  of  some  mo- 
ment, which  Mr.  Massey,  the  clergyman,  who  lived  to  an  ad- 
vanced age,  used  to  mention  as  an  instance  of  his  address. 
The  eld  church  was  falling  to  ruin,  and  it  was  resolved  that 
another  should  be  built.  Several  meetings  were  held,  and  a 
warm  discussion  arose  respecting  its  location ;  the  old  one 
being  remote  from  the  centre,  and  inconveniently  situated  for 
many  of  the  parishioners.  A  meeting  for  settling  the  question 
was  finally  held.  Mr.  George  Mason,  who  led  the  party  for  ad- 
hering to  the  ancient  site,  made  an  eloquent  harangue,  in  which 
he  appealed,  with  great  effect,  to  the  sensibilities  of  the  people, 
conjuring  them  not  to  desert  the  spot  consecrated  by  the  bones 
of  their  ancestors  and  the  most  hallowed  associations.  Mr. 
Massey  said  that  every  person  present  seemed  moved  by  this 
discourse,  and,  for  the  moment,  he  thought  there  would  not  be 
a  dissenting  voice.  Washington  then  rose,  and  drew  from  his 
pocket  a  roll  of  paper,  containing  an  exact  survey  of  Truro 
parish,  on  which  was  marked  the  site  of  the  old  church,  the 
proposed  site  of  the  new  one,  and  the  place  where  each  pa- 
rishioner  resided.  He  spread  this  map  before  the  audience, 
explained  it  in  a  few  words,  and  then  added,  that  it  was  for 
them  to  determine  whether  they  would  be  carried  away  by  an 
impulse  of  feeling,  or  act  upon  the  obvious  principles  of  reason 


A    DISCOURAGED    YOUNG    MINISTER.  ■]')[> 

.  • 

and  justice.  The  argument,  thus  confirmed  by  ocular  demon- 
stration, was  conclusive,  and  the  church  was  erected  on  the 
new  site. 


A  DISCOURAGED  YOUNG  MINISTER. 

A  YOUNG  minister  was  settled  in  a  large  and  popular  congre- 
gation, under  very  flattering  circumstances.  The  church  and 
people  had  settled  him  in  the  belief  that  he  was  a  young  man 
of  more  than  ordinary  talents,  and  with  the  expectation  of  his 
becoming  a  distinguished  man.  After  a  year  or  two,  when  the 
novelty  of  the  thing  had  worn  off,  the  current  seemed  to 
change,  and  the  feeling  prevailed  that  Mr.  B.  was  not,  noi 
likely  to  be,  quite  what  they  had  expected.  He  did  not  grow 
as  they  had  thought  he  would ;  he  did  not  perform  the  amount 
of  labour  which  was  needed  to  build  up  the  church,  and  interest 
the  congregation.  Things  dragged  heavily.  The  young  man 
felt  the  influence  of  the  chill  atmosphere  which  thus  surrounded 
him.  His  spirits  sunk,  his  health  failed,  and  it  was  soon  whis- 
pered around  in  the  society  and  in  the  neighbouring  towns,  that 
Mr.  B.  would  probably  have  to  leave — he  was  not  the  man  for 
the  place.  He  was  not  the  man  of  talents  they  had  antici- 
pated. 

While  things  were  in  this  state,  at  a  meeting  of  the  church, 
when  the  pastor  was  absent,  (perhaps  one  called  to  see  what 
should  be  done,)  Mr.  0 ,  an  intelligent  and  influential  mem- 
ber, arose  and  said : 

"  Brethren,  I  think  we  have  been  in  the  fault  respecting  our 
minister.  I  think  that  he  is  a  young  man  of  superior  talents, 
Vind  will  one  day  be  a  distinguished  man.  But  we  have  not 
sustained  him  and  encouraged  him  as  we  should.  We  have 
been  standin^r  and  looking  on,  expecting  him  to  raise  both  him- 


460  THE    AMERICAN    CLEBGr. 

» 

self  and  us  to  eminence.  Now,  let  us  adopt  a  different  course. 
Let  us  encourage  our  minister  with  our  prayers,  our  sympa- 
thies, and  our  efforts.  Let  us  speak  of  him  with  esteem  and 
confidence  to  others,  and  say  that  we  think  him  a  man  of 
talent,  and  one  who  bids  fair  to  be  a  distinguished  man." 

The  thing  was  agreed  upon.  The  leading  men  set  the  ex- 
ample. Very  soon  every  one  was  speaking  in  favour  of  Mr. 
B.  His  people  visited  him,  sympathized  with  him  ;  and  people 
out  of  the  society  began  to  remark,  how  Mr.  B.  was  rising  in 
the  estimation  of  his  people. 

The  young  man  felt  the  change.  The  cold,  damp  chill  with 
which  he  was  surrounded,  and  which  was  benumbing  the  ener- 
gies of  his  soul,  was  changed  by  the  influence  of  such  kindly 
beams,  and  a  warm  atmosphere  came  over  him.  His  spirits 
rose ;  his  health  returned  ;  his  energies  awoke,  and  he  showed 
to  all  that  he  had  within  him  the  elements  of  a  man.  Several 
revivals  attended  his  labours.  In  the  affections  of  the  church 
and  the  people,  he  firmly  established  himself.  His  name  be- 
came honourably  enrolled  among  authors,  and  he  was  one 
whom  his  own  church  and  other  churches  delight  to  honour. 


REV.  DR.  STANFORD. 


Ministers  of  the  gospel,  though  it  does  not  become  them  to 
talk  of  it,  are  often  very  poor,  and  kindness  should  be  shown 
to  them,  both  in  act  and  in  manner.  The  following  may  sug- 
gest an  important  and  useful  hint : — The  late  Rev.  Dr.  Stan- 
ford was  once  walking  in  Wall  street,  in  New  York,  when  he 
met  a  gentleman,  who,  judging  from  the  threadbare  appearance 
of  his  garments,  that  a  new  suit  of  clothes  would  not  be  unac- 
ceptable, invited  him  to  step  into  a  merchant  tailor's  shop, 
of)posite.      After   they   had  entered,  Mr.  W.   remarked    to   the 


A    :\EW    E?JtiLAISD    MINISTER.  4i;i 

tailor  that  they  had  called  for  the  purpose  of  requesting  him  to 
decide  a  point  upon  which  there  was  sonne  doubt,  namely,  who 
was  the  largest  man,  Dr.  Stanford  or  himself.  They  were 
accordingly  measured,  and  nothing  more  was  said  on  the  sub- 
ject. The  following  week,  a  new  suit  of  clothes  were  brought 
to  Dr.  S.,  accompanied  with  an  anonymous  note,  requesting 
his  acceptance  of  them.  When  relating  this  circumstance  to 
his  biographer,  Dr.  S.  remarked,  with  his  usual  pleasantry, 
"  Well,  what  could  I  do  but  pocket  the  affront  ?" 


A  NEW  ENGLAND  MINISTER. 


At  the  first  settlement  of  one  of  the  New  England  towns, 
the  inhabitants,  with  their  characteristic  piety,  erected  a  house 
of  worship,  and  procured  the  services  of  an  eminent  ministei. 
Without  a  fixed  salary,  he  was  partially  dependent  upon  gra- 
tuity for  support. 

For  the  more  effectual  supply  of  his  wants,  as  well  as  to 
testify  their  attachment  and  respect,  the  members  of  his  flock 
appointed  a  day  for  general  contribution.  On  that  day,  they 
came  to  the  residence  of  their  minister,  some  in  carriages  and 
some  on  foot,  bringing  with  them  their  various  gifts,  all  zealous 
to  testify  their  love,  and  some,  perhaps,  anxious  to  exhibit  their 
superior  wealth.  Be  this  as  it  may,  they  formed  a  happy 
group ;  cordial  salutations  were  interchanged,  love  attuned 
every  heart,  and  joy  sparkled  in  every  eye. 

Amoncr  the  last  to  arrive,  were  two  neighbours  who  resided 
in  a  remote  part  of  the  parish  ;  and  whom  want  and  privation, 
incident  to  a  new  settlement,  had  left  nothing  to  give.  Anxious 
to  be  the  bearers  of  some  token  of  their  attachment  and  grati- 
tude, they   had,  alas!    nothing  but    honest   hearts  and   kind 

wishes. 

39** 


462  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

After  much  perplexity,  they  went  into  the  woods,  dug  up 
each  a  small  elm-tree,  and  came  with  their  humble  offerings. 

Silently  and  unobserved,  they  planted  them  in  front  of  their 
pastor's  dwelling.  Not  venturing  to  mingle  among  the  wealthier 
givers,  their  work  accomplished,  they  returned  to  their  homes. 

Two  hundred  years  have  rolled  over  the  events  of  that  day. 
The  shepherd  and  his  flock  are  sleeping  side  by  side.  They 
that  gave,  and  he  that  received,  have  passed  away  ;  givers  and 
their  gifts  forgotten.  Nay,  they  are  not  all  forgotten.  Neai" 
by,  and  designating  the  site  of  the  parsonage,  stands  an  aged 
elm.  Until  witiiin  a  few  years,  there  were  two  of  them.  In- 
terlocking their  giant  branches,  they  had  long  battled  with  the 
tempests,  and  drank  together  of  the  morning  dews;  for  their 
shadows  reached  back  through  two  centuries.  Others  have 
been  planted  beside  them  ;  and  long  and  densely  shaded  streets, 
like  arched  passages,  have  given  character,  beauty,  and  a 
name  to  the  City  of  Elms. 

Of  these  two  trees,  thus  planted,  one  has  fallen  a  victim  to 
time ;  the  other  yet  stands,  in  hale  old  age,  rich  in  its  memo- 
ries and  associations — not  the  least  of  which  is,  that  it  was  the 
poor  man's  gift. 


A  SOUTHERN  CLERGYMAN, 


Two  coloured  men,  in  the  South,  had  just  been  hearing  a 
sermon,  and  were  conversing  together  about  it.  One  of  them 
remarked  that  he  could  understand  but  little  of  it,  but  the  other 
said  that  he  understood  all  but  one  word.  "What  is  dat?" 
asked  his  companion.  "  De  word  'persefverance^''  was  the  an- 
swer. To  which  the  other  rejoined,  "  Oh  !  me  tell  you  what 
dat  is;  it  mean,  take  right  hold;  holdfast;  hang  on,  ana 
no  let  go.'*'' 


REV.    JOSEPH    SMITH.  463 


REV.  JOSEPH  SMITH. 

Our  story  will  carry  the  reader  back  a  little  more  than  fifty 
years ;  when  all  north  of  the  Ohio  river  was  an  almost  un- 
broken wilderness — the  mysterious  red  man's  home.  On  the 
other  side,  a  bold  and  hardy  band  from  beyond  the  mountains 
had  built  their  log  cabins,  and  were  trying  to  subdue  the  wil- 
derness. 

To  them  every  hour  was  full  of  peril.  The  Indians  would 
often  cross  the  river,  steal  their  children  and  horses,  and  kill 
and  scalp  any  victim  who  came  in  their  way.  They  worked 
in  the  field  with  weapons  at  their  side ;  and,  on  the  Sabbath, 
met  in  the  grove  of  the  rude  log  church  to  hear  the  word  of 
God,  with  their  rifles  in  their  hands. 

To  preach  to  these  settlers,  Mr.  Joseph  Smith,  a  Presbyte- 
rian minister,  had  left  his  parental  home  east  of  the  mountains. 
He,  it  was  said,  was  the  second  minister  who  had  crossed  the 
Monongahela  river.  He  settled  in  Washington  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  became  the  pastor  of  the  Cross  Creek  and  Upper 
Buffalo  congregations,  dividing- his  time  between  them.  He 
found  them  a  willing  and  united  people,  but  still  unable  to  pay 
him  a  salary  which  would  support  his  family.  He,  in  com- 
mon w^th  all  the  early  ministers,  must  cultivate  a  farm.  He 
purchased  one  on  credit,  proposing  to  pay  for  it  with  the  salary 
pledged  to  him  by  his  people. 

Years  passed  away ;  the  pastor  was  unpaid  ;  little  or  no 
money  was  in  circulation ;  wheat  was  abundant,  but  there  was 
no  market ;  it  could  not  be  sold  for  more  than  tvvelve-and-a- 
half  cents,  in  cash.  Even  their  salt  had  to  be  brought  across 
the  mountains  on  pack-horses,  and  was  worth  eight  dollars  per 
bushel :  twenty-one  bushels  of  wheat  were  often  given  for  one 

of  salt. 

The  time  came  when  the  last  payment  must  be  made,  and 


404  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

Mr.  Smith  was  told  he  must  pay  or  leave  his  farm.     Three 
years'  salary  was  now  due  from  his  people. 

For  the  want  of  this,  his  land,  his  improvements  upon  it, 
and  his  hopes  of  remaining  among  a  beloved  people,  must  be 
abandoned.  The  people  were  called  together,  and  the  case 
laid  before  them.  They  were  greatly  moved.  Counsel  from 
on  high  was  sought.  Plan  after  plan  was  proposed  and  aban-  ^ 
doned.  The  people  were  unable  to  pay  the  tithe  of  their 
debts,  and  no  money  could  be  borrowed. 

In  despair  they  adjourned,  to  meet  again  the  following  week. 
In  the  mean  time  it  was  ascertained  that  a  Mr.  Moore,  who 
owned  the  only  mill  in  the  country,  would  grind  for  them  wheat 
on  moderate  terms.  At  the  next  meeting,  it  was  resolved  to 
carry  their  wheat  to  Mr.  Moore's  mill.  Some  gave  fifty 
bushels,  some  more.  This  was  carried  from  fifteen  to  twenty- 
six  miles,  on  horses,  to  the  mill. 

In  a  month,  word  came  that  the  flour  was  ready  to  go  to 
market.  Again  the  people  were  called  together.  After  an 
earnest  prayer,  the  question  was  asked,  Who  will  run  the  flour 
to  New  Orleans  ?  This  was  a  startling  question.  The  work 
was  perilous  in  the  extreme.  Months  must  pass  before  the 
adventurer  could  hope  to  return,  even  though  his  journey  should 
be  fortunate.  Nearly  all  the  way  was  a  wilderness ;  and 
gloomy  tales  had  been  told  of  the  treacherous  Indians.  More 
than  one  boat's  crew  had  gone  on  that  journey,  and  came  back 
no  more. 

Who,  then,  would  endure  the  toil  and  brave  the  danger? 
None  volunteered.  The  young  shrunk  back,  and  the  middle- 
aged  had  their  excuses.  Their  last  scheme  seemed  likely  to 
fail.  At  length  a  hoary-headed  man,  an  elder  in  the  church, 
sixty-four  years  of  age,  arose,  and,  to  the  astonishment  of  the 
assembly,  said,  "  Here  am  I ;  send  me."  The  deepest  feeling 
at  once  pervaded  the  whole  assembly.  To  see  their  venerated 
elder  thus  devote  himself  for  their  iioo  i,  melted  them  all   to 


REV.    JOSEl'H    SMITH.  465 

tears.  They  gathered  around  old  Father  Smiley,  to  learn  that 
his  resolution  was  indeed  taken ;  that,  rather  than  lose  their 
pastor,  he  would  brave  danger,  toil,  and  even  death.  After 
some  delay  and  trouble,  two  young  men  were  induced,  by 
hope  of  a  large  reward,  to  go  as  his  assistants. 

A  day  was  appointed  for  starting.  The  young  and  old,  from 
far  and  near,  from  love  to  Father  Smiley,  and  the  deep  inte- 
rest in  the  object  of  his  mission,  gathered  together,  and,  with 
their  pastor  at  their  head,  came  down  from  the  church,  fifteen 
miles  away  to  the  bank  of  the  river,  to  bid  the  old  man  fare- 
well. Then  a  prayer  was  offered  by  their  pastor.  A  parting 
hymn  was  sung.  "There,"  said  the  old  Scotchman,  "untie 
the  cable,  and  let  us  see  what  the  Lord  will  do  for  us."  This 
was  done,  and  the  boat  floated  slowly  away. 

More  than  nine  months  passed,  and  no  word  came  back  from 
Father  Smiley.  Many  a  prayer  had  been  breathed  for  him; 
but  what  had  been  his  fate,  was  unknown.  Another  Sabbath 
came.  The  people  came  together  for  worship  ;  and  there,  on 
his  rude  bench,  before  the  preacher,  composed  and  devout,  sat 
Father  Smiley.  After  the  services,  the  people  were  requested 
to  meet  early  in  the  week,  to  hear  the  report.     All  came  again. 

After  thanks  had  been  rendered  to  God  for  his  safe  return, 
Father  Smiley  arose  and  told  his  story  :— That  the  Lord  had 
prospered  his  mission  ;  that  he  had  sold  his  f^our  for  twenty- 
seven  dollars  per  barrel,  and  then  got  safely  back.  He  then 
drew  a  large  purse,  and  poured  upon  the  table  a  larger  pile  of 
o-old  than  most  of  the  spectators  had  ever  seen  before.  The 
youniT  men  were  paid  each  a  hundred  dollars.  Father  Smiley 
was  asked  his  charges.  He  meekly  replied  that  he  thought  lie 
ought  to  have  the  same  as  one  of  the  young  men,  though  he 
had  not  done  quite  as  much  work.  It  was  immediately  pro- 
posed  to  pay  him  three  hundred  dollars.  This  he  refused  to 
receive,  till  the  pastor  was  paid.  Upon  counting  the  money, 
there  was  found  enough  to  pay  what  was  due  Mr.  S.,  to  ad- 


466  THE    AMERICAN    CLERGY. 

vance  his  salary  tor  the  year  to  come,  to  reward  Father  Smi- 
ley with  three  hundred  dollars,  and  then  to  leave  a  large 
dividend  for  each  contribution.  Thus  their  debts  were  paid, 
their  pastor  relieved ;  and,  while  life  lasted,  he  broke  to  them 
the  bread  of  life.  The  bones  of  both  pastor  and  elder  have 
long  reposed  in  the  same  church-yard ;  but  a  grateful  posterity 
still  tell  this  pleasing  story  of  the  past. 


A  MISSIONARY  AMONG  THE  INDIANS. 

Few  anecdotes  are  more  interesting,  as  connected  with  the 
ministry,  than  some  of  those  relating  to  the  Indians.  In  1803, 
these  persons  at  Stockbridge  delivered  a  speech  to  a  missionary 
who  laboured  among  them,  which  shows  their  affection  to  him, 
while  it  also  illustrates  not  a  few  passages  of  the  sacred  vo- 
lume.    The  following  is  an  extract : — 

Father  I  when  I  look  at  you,  I  see  the  tears  are  falling  down 
your  cheeks,  on  account  of  the  many  dismal  objects  you  have 
seen.  Now,  according  to  the  ancient  custom  of  my  forefathers, 
I  stretch  forth  my  hand  and  wipe  the  tears  from  your  eyes, 
that  you  may  see  clearly.  And,  likewise,  I  see  that  your  ears 
are  stopped  with  the  dust  that  flies  about.  I  now  clear  your 
ears,  that  you  may  hear  distinctly.  I  also  loosen  your"  tongue, 
that  you  may  speak  freely.  Having  done  this,  I  see  that  your 
legs  and  feet  are  muddy,  by  reason  of  the  wet  path  by  which 
you  travel.  I  likewise  wash  your  legs  and  feet.  While  I  do 
this,  I  feel  some  briars  stick  in  your  feet.  I  pluck  them  out, 
and  take  the  healing  oil,  which  our  forefathers  used  to  keep  for 
that  purpose,  and  oil  them,  that  they  may  feel  comfortable, 
while  you  sit  by  the  side  of  our  fire-place. 


MORAVIAN    MISSIONARIES.  467 


MORAVIAN  MISSIONARIES. 


A  LARGE  body  of  Indians  had  been  converted  by  the  Mora- 
vian missionaries,  and  settled  in  the  West,  where  their  sim- 
plicity and  harmlessness  seemed  a  renewal  of  the  better  days 
Df  Christianity.  During  the  Revolutionary  war,  these  settle- 
ments, named  Dichtenau  and  Guadenhutten,  being  located  in 
the  seat  of  the  former  Indian  contests,  were  exposed  to  outrage 
from  both  parties.  Being,  however,  under  the  tuition  and  in- 
fluence of  the  whites,  and  having  adopted  their  religion  euid 
the  virtuous  portion  of  their  habits,  they  naturally  apprehended 
that  the  hostile  Indians,  sweeping  down  upon  the  American 
frontier,  would  take  advantage  of  their  helplessness,  and  de- 
stroy them  as  allies  of  the  whites.  Subsequent  events  enable 
us  to  compare  the  red  and  white  man,  and  determine  which  is 
the  savage.  A  party  of  two  hundred  Hurons  fiercely  ap- 
proached the  Moravian  Indian  town.  The  Christian  Indians 
conducted  themselves,  in  this  trying  extremity,  with  meekness 
and  firmness.  They  sent  a  deputation  with  refreshments  to 
their  approaching  foes,  and  told  them  that,  by  the  word  of  God, 
they  were  taught  to  be  at  peace  with  all  men,  and  entreated 
for  themselves  and  their  white  teachers,  peace  and  protection. 
And  what  replied  the  savage,  fresh  from  the  wilds,  and  panting 
for  blood?  Did  he  mock  to  scorn  the  meek  and  Christian 
appeal  ?  Did  he  answer  with  the  war-whoop,  and  lead  on  his 
men  to  the  easy  slaughter  of  his  foes  ?  What  else  could  be 
expected  from  an  Indian  ?  Yet  such  was  not  the  response  of 
the  red  warrior.  He  said  he  was  on  a  war  party,  and  his 
heart  had  been  evil,  and  his  aim  had  been  blood ;  but  the 
words  of  his  brethren  had  opened  his  eyes.  He  would  do 
them  no  harm.  "Obey  your  teachers,"  said  he,  "worship 
your  God,  and  be  not  afraid.     No  creature  shall  harm  you." 


468  THE    AMERICAN    CLEKGV, 


A  DISCOURAGED  PASTOK. 


I  ONCE  heard  of  a  minister  who  stated  that  he  preached  a 
number  of  years  in  a  certain  place,  without  any  visible  benefit 
to  any  one.  Finally,  he  concluded  it  was  not  right  for  him  to 
preach,  and  in  consequence  thought  he  would  give  it  up.  But, 
while  musing  on  the  subject,  he  fell  asleep  and  dreamed.  "  I 
dreamed,"  said  he,  "  that  I  was  to  work  for  a  certain  man  for 
so  much,  and  my  business  was  sitting  upon  a  very  large  rock, 
with  a  very  small  hammer,  pounding  upon  the  middle  of  it,  in 
order  to  split  it  open.  I  worked  a  long  time,  to  no  effect ;  and 
at  length  I  became  discouraged,  and  began  to  complain,  when 
my  employer  came.  Said  he,  '  Why  do  you  complain  ?  Have 
you  not  fared  well  while  in  my  employ  ?' 

"*0h!  yes.' 

"  '  Have  you  not  had  enough  to  eat  ?' 

"*Yes.' 

"  *  Have  you  been  neglected  in  any  way  ?' 

"  *  No,  sir.' 

"'Then,'  said  he,  'keep  to  work,  cease  your  complaints, 
and  I  will  take  care  of  the  result.' 

"  He  then  left  me. 

"I  then  thought  that  I  applied  my  little  hammer  with  more 
energy,  and  soon  the  rock  burst  open  v/i!h  such  force  that  it 
awoke  me.  Then,"  says  he,  "  I  ceased  to  complain  ;  I  seized 
my  little  hammer  with  new  vigor;  I  hammered  upon  that  great 
rock.  Sin,  with  renewed  energy,  nothing  doubting,  and  soon 
the  rock  burst.  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  rushed  in,  and  the 
result  was  a  reward  of  a  glorious  ingathering  of  souls." 


A    CLERGYMAN.  469 


REV.  SYLVESTER  LARNED. 

The  communication  of  reproof,  however  painful  it  may  be 
is  one  of  the  most  important  and  most  useful  duties  of  the 
Christian  ministry.  A  Spanish  gentleman  once  called  on  the 
late  Rev.  Sylvester  Larned,  of  New  Orleans,  one  of  the  most 
eloquent  pulpit  orators  of  his  day,  to  say  that  he  wished  to 
join  his  church,  and  to  receive  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper ;  "  for,"  said  he,  with  an  oath,  "  you  are  the  most  elo- 
quent man  I  have  ever  heard !"  Mr.  Larned  spent  an  hour 
with  him  in  explaining  what  was  required  in  order  to  becoming 
a  member  of  his  church :  in  other  words,  what  it  is  to  be  a 
true  Christian ;  and  the  Spaniard  went  away  with  a  heavy 
heart,  to  reflect  on  a  subject  which  had  never  been  presented 
to  his  mind  in  the  same  light  before. 


A  CLERGYMAN. 


A  CLERGYMAN,  who  was  not  very  remarkable  for  his  zeal  in 
the  cause  of  his  Divine  Master,  while  travelling  in  New  York 
state,  stopped  for  a  night  in  a  place  where  there  was  an  exten- 
sive  revival  of  religion.  After  resting  for  a  short  time  at  the 
inn,  his  curiosity  to  view  the  place  led  him  to  stroll  through 
the  streets.  He  had  not  proceeded  far  on  his  evening  ramble, 
before  his  ear  was  arrested  by  the  voice  of  prayer.  He  paused 
and  listened ;  and,  finding  that  the  voice  issued  from  a  retired 
and  humble  dwelling  by  the  roadside,  stranger  as  he  was,  he 
resolved  to  enter.  On  entering,  he  found  himself  unexpectedly 
surrounded  by  a  band  of  disciples,  assembled  for  special 
prayer.  He  cast  his  eye  about,  upon  the  little  group,  in  a  vain 
endeavour  to  find  some  one  whom  he  could  recognise  as  an 

40 


470  THE    AMEBICAN    CLERGY. 

acquaintance ;  but  all  were  strangers  in  person,  through  bre- 
thren in  Christ.  Collecting  his  wandering  thoughts,  he  bowed 
himself  in  the  humble  attitude  of  prayer,  and,  to  his  infinite 
surprise,  he  soon  discovered  that  himself,  by  name,  and  the 
people  of  his  charge,  were  the  subjects  of  ardent  and  importu- 
nate supplication.  The  person  who  was  leading  their  devo- 
tions, was  an  entire  stranger  to  him ;  and  yet  he  seemed  to 
wrestle  in  spirit  with  God,  that  he  might  be  aroused  to  greater 
faithfulness  and  zeal  in  his  ministerial  duties  and  private  devo- 
tions, and  that  God  would  prepare  him  to  become  an  agent 
in  reviving  his  work  in  the  church  and  congregation  over 
whom  he  was  placed  as  a  spiritual  watchman.  After  the 
meeting  had  closed,  being  deeply  impressed  with  the  guilt  of 
his  past  negligence,  and  with  the  responsibility  of  the  minis- 
terial office,  he  silently  withdrew  and  returned  to  his  lodgings. 
Not  long  after  this  event,  he  returned  to  his  people,  and  re- 
sumed, with  renewed  vigour,  the  duties  of  his  office.  Within 
a  short  time,  a  revival  commenced  in  his  congregation,  and 
three  hundred  were  early  numbered  as  the  hopeful  subjects  of 
redeeming  mercy. 


INDEX 


OF 


PERSONS  AND  PLACES 


Paoe 

A.,  Rev.  Mr. 

22 

Adams,  Rev.  Z. 

160 

African 

448 

Albany,  N.  Y.                           131,  231,  353 

Alden,  Rev.  Mr. 

217 

Alder,  Rev.  Dr. 

134 

Alexander,  Rev.  Dr. 

<U0 

Alleghany  mountains 

282 

98 

Allen,  Rev.  J. 

190 

,  Rev.  S. 

200 

Allison,  Rev.  Dr.  F. 

18 

AUsworthy,  Deacon 

285 

Amherst,  college  at 

145 

Andover,  college  at 

195  210 

Angier,  Mrs.  A.  L. 

185 

Annapolis 

204 

Arminian,  and  Dr.  Nettleton 

393 

Armstrong,  Rev.  Dr. 

280 

,  Rev.  J. 

409 

Asbury,  Bishop 

219 

Atheist 

398 

Athol 

323 

Auburn,  N.  Y. 

387 

Augusta,  Ga. 

379 

-      ,  Me. 

109 

B.,  Elder 

-,  Mr. 

— ,  Rev.  Dr. 

— ,  Rev.  Mr. 

Backus,  Rev.  Dr. 

,  Rev.  Mjt. 


213 
399 
454 
51,  459 
455 
217 


Faos 

Bailey,  Rev.  Mr.  217,  433 

Baird,  Rev.  Dr.  229 

Baker.  Rev.  Mr.  356 

Bangor,  Me.  177 

Bangs,  Rev.  Dr.  108 

Baldwin,  Rev.  Dr.  385 

Balfour,  Rev.  Dr.  224^ 

Baltimore,  Md.  Ill,  379* 

Barbadoes  60 

Baxter,  Rev.  R.  148 

Beatty,  Rev.  C.  60 

Beck,  Mr.  276 

Bedell,  Rev.  Dr.  109,110,276 

Beecher,  family  of  44 

,  Rev.  Dr.  123,  211,  350,  438 

,  Rev.  G.  45 

Bellamy,  Rev.  Dr.  .                    263 

Bellingham,  Mass.  217 

Benedict.  Rev.  T.  P.  338 

Bennett,  Rev.  Mr.  145,  .•?% 

Bethlehem,  Conn.  263 

Birmingham,  Eng.  395 

Bishop,  a  pious  40 

Blair,  Rev.  S.  60,  360 

Blood,  Rev.  Caleb  269 

Blythe,  Rev.  S.  57 

Bohemia,  Del.  19 

Bomniaseen,  Indian  chief  302 

Bonaparte,  Louis  415 

Bordeniown,  N.  J.  290 

Borneo  68 
Boston,  Mass.         21,  41,  50,  63,  72,  73.  76, 

101,  111,  135,  137,  145,  154,  162,  r."?, 

207,  215,  217,  269,  .125,  328,  .136,  357, 

377,  389,  392,  121,  454 

(■171) 


472 


INDEX    OF    PERSONS    AND    PLACES. 


Boyle,  Sir  R. 
Brainerd,  Rev.  D. 
lireckenridge,  Rev.  Dr 
Bricklayer 
Hridgewater,  Mass. 
Bristol,  R.  I. 
}$rock,  Rev.  J. 
Urockden,  Mr. 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
Jlrown,  John 

,  Rev.  T. 

Brunswick,  N.  J. 
Buffalo,  Upper 
Bumstead,  Mr. 
Burr,  President 
Bushnell,  Rev.  Mr. 
Byles,  Rev.  Dr.  M. 
Byne,  Rev.  E. 

(• ,  Mr. 

,  Rev.  Dr. 

,  Rev.  Mr. 


Cadet 

f'ambridge,  Mass 
Cambridgeport,  Mass. 
Cape  Cod 
Case,  Rev.  Mr. 
("aviller,  and  Dr.  Nettleton 
Catlin,  Rev.  Dr. 
Chaniplain,  Lake 
Chaplain,  U.  S.  Military 
Chaplin,  Rev.  Dr.  J. 
I'harlestoD,  Me. 
,  S.  C. 


Paos 

159 

451 

234 

312 

175 

327 

189 

f41 

176 

402 

235,  287 

400 

463 

22 

20 

386 

207 

355 

51,  13 

351 

47,  413 

25 

111,  131,152,227,440 

322 


131 

411 

300 

440 

357 

25 

205 

411 

219,  246 

273 

248 

445 

447 

204 

142 

449 

51 

i62,  261,  455 

317 

246 

161 

23,  50,  68,  205,  228,  325, 

354,  370,  371,  374,  469 

-  at  St.  Louis  424 
-,  a  Baptist  231 
-,  a  courteous  312 

-  in  Indiana  88 

-  in  Maine  95 

-  in  Massachuftelts  161 


Pass 
Clergyman  in  New  York  373,  443 

,  a  New  England     35,  130,  169, 

181,  328,  373,  375,  383 


("base,  Bishop 

Chauncy,  Rev.  Dr. 

Chebucto,  N.  S. 

<  herokees,  minister  among 

Chesterfield,  Va. 

('hestertown,  Md. 

Child 

Chittenden,  Vt. 

Cincinnati 

Clap,  Rev.  Mr. 

Clarinda,  the  African 

Clark,  Captain 

(Mergyman 


-  at  New  Orleans 

-  in  Philadelphia 

-  in  Tennessee 

-  in  Virginia 
-,  a  Methodist 
-,  an  eccentric 
-,  an  effective 

,  an  eminent 
-,  an  Episcopal 
-,  an  old 
-,  a  persecuting 
-,  a  Presbyterian 
-,  a  southern 
-,  a  travelling 
-,  a  Universalist 
-,  a  village 
-,  a  wise 
-,  a  young 


Clergymen,  aged 

,  several 

,  several  young 

,  travelling 


410 
331 
358 
293,  388 
165,  267,  370 
166 
124 
150 
245 
44,  133,  362,  395 
256 
290 
462 
427 
375 
346 
398 
34,  153,  185,  223, 
245,  264 
244 
71,  74,  175,  266 
49,  367 
277 


Clerk,  a  church 
Coke,  Rev.  Dr. 
Coley,  Rev.  Mr. 
Coleman,  Rev.  Mr. 
Cotton,  Rev.  C. 
Columbian  river 
Cone,  Rev.  Dr. 
Connecticut 
Cook,  Rev.  C.  S. 
Cooper,  Rev.  Dr. 

,  Rev.  W. 

Cotton,  Rev.  John 
Craig,  Mr. 

,  Rev.  Messrs. 

Cross,  Rev.  Mr. 

Cross  Creek 

Cuba 

Culpepper,  county  of 


D.,  Dr. 

— ,  Mrs. 
Daniel,  Rev.  E. 
D'Anville,  Duke 
Dartmouth  college 


two    25.  109,  231,  245,  264,  336 
330 
204,389 
352 
41 
348 
69 
ISO 
234«242,  350,  367 
457 
248 
41 
389 


229 
391 
463 
191 
181 


358 
411 
235 
444 
455 


INDEX    OF    PERSONS    AND    PLACES. 


47  :j 


Davies,  Rev.  President 

Deacon 

Deerfield,  N.  E. 
Delaware 
Dickson,  Rev.  D. 
Divine,  a  celebrated 

,  a  New  England 

Drunkard 
Dunbarton 
Dwight,  Rev.  Dr, 


60—62,  166,  ]90. 

452 

312,  367 

195 

8,  19 

410 

176,  267 

23 

51 

226,  362 


48,  160,  163,  208,  227, 
233,  235,  412,  445 
mother  of  48 


Eastburn,  Rev.  J. 

Eastham 

East  Hampton,  L.  I. 

East  Indies 

East  Windsor 

Eatonton 

Edgartown 

Edgefield  C.  H. 

Edwards,  Rev.  President 


Elder 

Elizabeth,  Queen 
Eliot,  Rev.  J. 
Elliot,  Bishop 
Ely,  Rev.  Dr. 
Emmons,  Rev.  Dr. 
Enfield 
England 

Erskine,  Rev.  Dr. 
Estabrook,  Rev.  Mr. 
Europe 


F.,  Rev.  Dr. 
— ,  Rev.  Mr. 

Fairfield 

Family,  a  Methodist 
Field,  Rev.  Mr. 
Finley,  Rev.  Dr. 
Fisk  Rev.  Dr. 
Fogg's  Manor,  Penna. 
^  Forrest,  Rev.  Mr. 
Fort  Wayne 
Franklin,  Dr. 


46,313 

154 

351 

230 

237 

268 

58 

127 

48,  163,  195, 

201,  431,  439 

368 

48 

178,  202,  254,  372 

372 

37 

232 

164 

377,  424,  432,  458 

224 

323 

65 


Franklin,  Mass. 

Friend 

Furman,  Rev.  Dr. 


Gano,  Rev.  J. 

Gardiner 

Gentleman 

.  and  Dr.  Nettleton 

,  a  young 


Faom 

233 

178 

127,  246 


George,  Bishop 

II.,  King 

Georgia 

Gillespie,  Rev.  Mr. 
Gooch,  Sir  W. 
Good  Hope,  cape  of 
Goodrich,  Rev.  Dr. 
Grafton,  Rev.  Mr 
Great  Harbour 
Great  Valley 
Green  mountains 
Green,  Rev.  Dr. 
Gregory,  Dr.  O. 
Griffin,  Rev.  Dr. 
Grimaldi,  an  African 
Griswold,  Bishop 


180,337 

109 

326,  460 

306 

351 

257 

167 

238,  315,  372,  r9,  431 

151 

256 

230 

414 

348 

58 

455 

277 

46 

36 

71—73,  90,  01,  377 

315 

191,  327 


172 

334 

257 

258 

371 

264,  369 

108,  109 

60 

223 

211 

144,  394,  453 


H.,  Rev.  Mr.  431 

Hague,  Rev.  W.  203 

Hall,  Rev.  N.  63 

,  Rev.  R.  172 

Halifax,  N.  S.  76 

Hallowell,  Me.  109 

Hamburg,  Ga.  379 

Hamilton,  General  273 

Hampden  Sidney,  college  at  74 

Hampshire,  county  of  200 

Hanover,  N.  C.  94,  .i.',."? 

Harmony  409 
Harris,  Rev.  Dr.                          63,  225.  362 

,  Rev.S.  204,3.19 

Harvey,  Rev.  B.  J67 

Hatfield,  N.  E.  195 

Hauman,  Mr.  341 

Hawley,  Rev.  G.  227 

Haynes,  Rev.  L.  238 

Healy,  Rev.  Mr.  S51 

Henry,  Rev.  Dr.  T.  C.  435 


474 


INDEX    OF    PERSONS    AND    PLACES. 


Faob 

Hiacoomes  58 

Hill,  Rev.  Dr.  74 

Hitchcock,  Rev.  President  145 

Hodgkinson,  Mr.  144 

Holland  230 

Homer,  Rev.  B.  120 

,  Rev.  Dr.  348 

Hooker,  Rev.  T.  111,163,412 

Hopkins,  Rev.  Dr.  205,  439 

,  Rev.  Mr.  43 

Hopkinton,  Mass.  122 
Howe,  Rev.  Mr.  122 
Hull,  Rev.  Mr.  400 
Humphrey,  Rev.  Dr.  115 
Hyde,  Rev.  Mr.  366 
,  Rev.  Dr.  440 


Indiana  88,  21 1 

Indian  woman  451 

Indians,  a  missionary  to  the  210,  466 

,  Flat-headed  69 

Infidel,  a  young  405 

Ingraham,  Colonel  152 

Ireland  18, 59 


J.,  Rev.  Mr.  391 

Jack,  a  colored  preacher  283 

Jacobs,  Rev.  B.  322 

James,  Rev.  J.  W.  33 

James  river  280 

Japhet,  Rev.  Mr.  63 

Jerusalem  66 

Jew  293 

Johnson,  Rev.  Mr.  250 
Judson,  Rev.  Dr.                             247,  325 


Kennaday,  Rev.  J. 

89 

Kennebeck  river 

109 

Kentucky 

171,  229 

King,  Rev.  Dr. 

64,65 

Kirkland,  Rev.  Mr. 

159 

,  President 

440 

Knox,  Rev.  Hugh 

18 

L.,  Mr. 

— ,  Rev.  Dr. 
— ,  Rev.  Mr. 
Lady 

,  a  dying 

,  a  gay 

,  a  young 

Laidlie,  Rev.  Dr. 
Lambert,  Mr. 
Lamed,  Rev.  S. 
Lathrop,  Rev.  Dr. 
Lawrence,  river  St. 
Lawyer,  a  young 
Leland,  Rev.  John 
Leonard,  Rev.  L. 
Litchfield 

Livingston,  Rev.  Dr. 
London 
Long  Island 
Louisiana 
Lowell,  Mass. 
Lyman,  Rev.  H. 


Faob 
149 

397 

249 

369,  449 

406,  424 

35,  368 

299,  301,  307 

340 

310 

107,  469 

122,  144,  255,  412 

357 

273 

267 

269 

123 

230,  415 

17,  36,  166 

44 

290 

312 


M.,  Rev.  Mr, 

78 

371,  441 

M'Cartee,  Rev.  Dr. 

38 

M'llvaine,  Bishop 

25,446 

Maine 

238,  422 

Malta 

307 

Man,  a  white 

448 

Manchester 

210 

Manly,  Rev.  President 

127,  268 

Mann,  Mr. 

217 

Manning,  Rev.  Dr 

203,  217 

Martha's  Vineyard 

5.1 

Maryland 

81 

Mason,  Rev.  Dr.  J.  M. 

172, 

200,  4(12 

,  Mr.  G. 

4.';h 

Massachusetts            22 

,103, 

152, 

161,  W5, 
234,  450 

Massey,  Rev.  Mr. 

'J-'-vS 

Mather,  Rev.  Dr.  C. 

53,95 

,  215,  389.  .-;!'iJ 

Mayhew,  Rev.  T. 

53,  6-^ 

Maynard,  Mr. 

61 

Mercer,  Rev.  Dr. 

125, 

218 

268,  3''.!) 

Methodist  brother 

129 

Methodist  preacher 

87,  3>6 

Middleborough,  Mass. 

217 

Middleton,  Del. 

19 

Mid  Lothian,  Virginia 

145 

Miller,  a  Sabbath-breaking 

346 

INDEX    OF    PERSONS    AND    I'LACES. 


iO 


Paob 

Miiler,  Rev.  Dr  111,224 

Minister               228,  370,  371,  435,  436,  447 

,  a  Baptist  311 

,  a  circuit  257 

,  a  city  197 

,  a  country  277 

,  a  delightea  282 

,  a  faithful  116,  276,  335 

,  in  New  Hampshire  226 


Newark,  N.  J. 
New  Haven 
New  Brunswick 
Newbury 
Newburyport 
Newcastle,  Del. 


20,  90,  120,  233 

455 

17,  60,  94,  400 

152 

173,  249 

432 


in  Boston 

' ,  in  New  York 

- — ■ ,  a  mistaken 

,  an  able 

— — ,  an  aged 

,  a  New  England 


,  an  unsuccessful 

,  a  penitent 

,  a  poor 

— — — ,  a  popular 

,  a  shrewd 

,  a  travelling 

,  a  Universalist 


a  young 
-,  a  zealous 


Ministers,  Puritan 

-,  several  young 

,  six  young 

,  thoughtless 

— ,  two 

Missionaries,  American 
Missionary 

■ ,  a  home 

,  an  Indian 

,  a  Moravian 

Mississippi  river 
Monmouth,  N.  J. 
Monongahela  river 
Moody,  Rev.  Mr. 
Moore,  Mr. 
Morton,  Rev.  C.  S* 


336 

326,  424,  457 

450 

27 

340,  373,  434 

42,  148,  375. 

444,460 

286 

377 

312 

209 

427 

347 

158,  225,  240, 

267,  375,  378,  432 

71,  233,  282,  459 

40 

437 

30 

28 

224 

249,  262 

437 

50,  192 

455 

69,  96,  466 

467 

290,  453 

120 

463 

152,  285 

464 

132 


N.,  Mrs. 
— ,  Rev.  Mr. 
Narragansett  bay 
Negro,  an  old 
Neshaminy 
Nettleton,  Rev.  Dr. 


360 

109 

191 

29 

59 

115,  237,  241,  296 


New  England      95,  122,  133,  148,  176,  210, 

217,  356,  433,  438,  444,  445 

New  Hampshire  42,  44,  72,  226,  312, 

357,  385 
New  Jersey  17,60,117,166,265,287, 

343,  451 

New  London,  Penn.  18 

New  Orleans  107,  410,  464,  469 

New  Plymouth  95 

Newport,  R.  I.  191 

Newton,  Mass.  348 

New  York  38,  54,  62,  83,  85,  108,  138, 

155,  177,  J  84,  185,  192,  200,  202, 

233,  240,  264,  269,  274,  315,  316, 

321,  326,  334,  335,  341,  342,  349, 

4,  357,  360,  368,  373,  386,  387, 

395,  402,  424,  457,  460,  469 

Nightingale,  Rev.  S.  37 

North  Carolina  60,  94,  204 

Northampton,  Mass.  38,  66,  195 

Norwich,  Conn.  208 

Nott,  Rev.  Dr.  206 


O.,  Mr.  459 

Oglethorpe,  Governor  315 

Ohio  70,  176.  276,  414,  456,  463 

Otsego  47 


P.,  General 
Paine,  Thomaa 
Palestine 
Pammechannit 
Paris 


362 

40,  290,  291 

85 

St 

65 


Party,  a  gay,  and  Dr.  Netlleton  308 

Pastor,  a  Baptist  245 

,  a  Christian  874,  414 

,  a  devoted  213 

,  a  discouraged  469 

,  a  good  26 


476 

Pastor,  an  anxious 

,  a  wise 

Pastors,  several 
Patten,  Rev.  Dr. 
Patterson,  Rev.  J. 
Pattison,  Rev.  Dr. 
Payson,  Rev.  Dr. 
Pennsylvania 
Perkins,  Rev.  J. 
I'ersia 
Perth  Amboy 


INDEX    OF    PERSONS    AND    PLACES. 


Paoe 

324 

292 

435 

54 

370,  441 

205 

78,  104,  206,  253,  417 

18,  24,  139 

40 

40 

287 


Peter,  the  Indian  preacher  159 

Philadelphia  23,  37,  38,  46,  50,  54,  109, 

113,  123,  130,  140,  141,  171,  250, 
259,  276,  311,  331,  441,  453 


Phips,  Governor 
Physician 
Pierce,  Rev.  Dr. 
Pittsfield 
Plainfield,  Mass. 

,  N.  J. 

Plato 
Plymouth 
Polk,  Rev.  Mr. 
Pond,  Rev.  Dr. 
Porter,  Rev.  Dr. 

,  Rev.  T. 

Portland,  Me. 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 
Preacher 

,  a  forcible 

,  from  England 

,  a  good 

,  an  impressive 

,  an  unknown 

,  a  practical 

,  a  Universalist 

Preachers,  coloured 
Priestley,  Rev.  Dr. 
Prince,  Rev.  Mr. 
Princeton,  college  at 

Providence,  R.  1. 
Punch,  a  Christian  negro 


210 

409 

150 

115 

64 

343 

.  156 

134 

36 

247 

210 

130 

104,419 

273 

269 

112 

448 

161,  384 

103 

338 

181 

229,  231 

171,  283,  289 

111 

444 

49,  111,  139,  265, 

383,  442 

50,  205,  378 

219 


R.,  Mr. 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Randolph,  Mrs. 
Rappahannock,  county  of 
Raritan  river 
Ravencross,  Rev.  Mr. 
Rawson,  Rev.  Mr. 
Reading,  Mass. 
Restorationist 
Rhode  Island 
Rice,  Rev.  Dr.  J.  H. 

,  Rev.  Luther 

Richards,  Rev.  Dr. 
Richmond,  Rev.  L. 
,Va. 


Paob 

213,  232 

204 


Robinson,  Rev.  W. 
Rodgers,  Rev.  Dr. 


416 
182 

287 

22 

131 

189 

297 

317 

206,  415 

182 

90 

388 

281 

17,  60,  94 

18,  61,  83,  84,  141, 

202,  223,  256,  432 

387 

157 


87,  109, 148,  162,  249,  268, 
431 
Sailor,  a  profane  50,  44f 
Salem  408 
Saratoga,  springs  at  420 
Savannah  river  128 
Scipio,  an  African  248 
Scotch  Plains,  N.  J.  235,  287 
Scudder,  Rev.  Dr.  50,  235 
Sedgwick,  Judge  440 
Seneca  Lake  98 
Shepherd,  Rev.  John  207 
Sheppard,  Rev.  Professor  177 
Sherburne  387 
Shoals,  Isle  of  189 
Skeptic  370 
Slave,  a  blind  146 
Smiley,  Elder  464 
Smith,  Rev.  Dr.  J.  B.  75 
,  Rev,  Joseph  463 


Rome,  N.  Y. 
Rousseau 


S.,  Rev.  Mr. 


INDEX    OF    PERSONS    AND    PLACES. 


477 


Socrates 

Soldier,  a  Scottish 
Somers 
South  Amboy 
South  Carolina 
Spencer,  Rev.  Mr. 
Sprague,  Rev.  Dr. 
Spring,  Rev.  Dr. 
Springfield,  Mass. 

,  Ohio 

Standford,  Rev.  B. 
Stanfcrd,  Rev.  Dr. 
Staughton,  Rev.  Dr. 
Stearns,  Rev.  S.  H. 
Stevens,  Rev.  Mr. 
Still,  Rev.  C. 
Stillman,  Rev.  Dr. 
Stockbridge,  Mass. 
Stoddard,  Rev.  S. 
Stone,  Rev.  Dr. 
St.  George's,  Del. 
St.  Louis 
St.  Mary's 

Strawbridge,  Rev.  Mr. 
Strong,  Rev.  Dr. 

,  Rev.  Mr. 

Sullivan,  General 
Summerfield,  Rev.  John 
Sunday,  Rev.  John 
Symington,  Mrs. 


Paox 

157 

410 

455 

287 

127,  400 

321 

73 

316,  440 

122,  124 

257 

175 

177,  225,  341,  460 

113,  114,  250,  290 

195 

173 

76 

149,  217 

42 

38,  195] 

191 

18,  19,  83,  141 

424,  455 

211 

252 

79,  123 

163 

203 

184,400 

134 

161 


Taylor,  Rev.  Dr.  N.  W. 

,  Rev.  E.  T. 

Teetotaller,  a  staunch 
Tennent,  Rev.  G. 
,  Rev.  W 

Tennessee 
Texas 

Tinsley,  Rev.  D. 
Todd,  Rev.  Dr 
Tom,  poor 


237 

76.  106 

386 

166,  453 

54,59,117,118,  120, 

265,  360 

358,  453 

262 

204 

357 

54 


Treat,  Rev.  Mr. 
Trefit,  Rev.  Mr. 
Trenton,  N.  J. 
Truair,  Rev.  Mr. 
Truro,  parish  of 
Tuscarora  Indians 
Tyler,  Rev.  Dr. 


Faox 
154 
426 
400 
155,387 
458 
50,96 
237 


United  States,  Military  Academy  nf       25 
Universalist  112,296 

Utica  167, 386 

Utrecht  230 


Vermont  81,  85,  371 

Vernon,  Mount  458 

Virginia  22,  28,  61,  74,  138,  204,  206, 

280,  293,  308,  339,  361,  388.  415 


W.,  Mr. 
Wabash 

Waddell,  Rev.  Dr. 
Walker,  Rev.  J. 
,  Rev.  Mr. 


Ward,  Bishop 
Washington 
,  N.  Y. 


418, 


Waters,  Mr. 
Waubon,  Indian  chief 
Welch,  Rev.  Dr. 
Wells,  Rev.  S.  T. 
Wesley,  Rev.  J. 
West,  Rev.  Dr. 
Westminster,  Vt. 
Whitefield,  Rev.  G. 


Whitman,  Deacon  J. 


83, 
196.264, 


431 

409 

155,  317 

204 

387 

276 

451,  458,  463 

441 

182 

179 

131 

391 

315 

42 

371 

118,  135,  16.1, 

337,  339,  449 

75 


478 


INDEX    OF    PERSONS    AND    PLACES. 


Wickford 
Willard,  Rev,  Mr. 
VVjUey,  Rev.  Mr. 
Williams,  Rev.  W. 
Williamsburg,  Va. 
Wiltshire,  town  of 
Winder,  Mr. 
Winthrop,  Governor 
Wirt,  Hon.  Mr. 
Wisner,  Rev.  Dr. 
Witherspoon,  Mr. 

,  Rev.  Dr. 

Woburn,  Mass. 


Paoe 

191 

Worcester,  Rev.  Mr 

154 

Wrentham,  Mass. 

72 

WykoflF,  Mr. 

217 

Wyman,  Deacon 

256 

Wyoming,  N.  Y. 

212 

84 

111 

155,  317 

444 

19 

Yale  College 

383 

Yarmouth 

396 

York,  Me. 

Pass 
408 
217 
281 
396 
457 


455 
131 

152 


THE  END. 


ANNOUNCEMENT. 


The  Editor  of  this  work  respectfully  announces  that  he 
has  in  preparation  a  series  of  volumes,  uniform  in  size  and 
price  with  "  The  Clergy  of  America  ;"  the  publication  of 
which  may  be  expected  at  as  early  a  period  as  may  comport 
with  the  care  demanded  in  their  preparation  by  their  import- 
ance. The  following  list  will  show  the  varied  character,  and 
give  a  general  idea  of  the  contents  of  the  series ;  but  pro- 
bably it  does  not  furnish  the  order  in  which  they  will  be 
issued. 

THE  PULPIT  OF  AMERICA :— Facts  relating  to  its  occu- 
pants, incidents,  and  results,  in  the  United  States.  A 
companion  to  "  The  Clergy  of  America." 

THE  LITERATURE  OF  AMERICA:  — Anecdotes  of  its 
history,  authors,  curiosities,  and  influence,  in  the  United 
States. 

THE  LADIES  OF  AMERICA :— Anecdotes  illustrative  of 

the  female  character  in  the  United  States. 

(479) 


ANNOUNCEMENT. 

THE  GENTLEMEN  OF  AMERICA:— Anecdotes  illustra- 
live  of  the  character  of  professional  and  other  members 
of  general  society  in  the  United  States. 

THE  YOUNG  PEOPLE  OF  AMERICA :— Anecdotes  illus- 
trative  of  juvenile  character  in  the  United  States. 


(480) 


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